The music recording industry is facing lawsuits against two AI music start-ups, Suno and Uncharted Labs, for using copyrighted songs to train their tools. The suits were brought by major record companies, including Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records, who allege that the companies are exploiting artists’ work without consent or compensation. The CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America condemned these unlicensed services for hindering the progress of genuinely innovative AI technology.
Generative AI tools like those developed by Suno and Udio rely on large amounts of human-created content to function. The record companies claim that these start-ups used songs they did not have permission to use when training their AI algorithms. Despite requests for comment, both Suno and Udio have not responded to the allegations. The lawsuits are part of a growing trend of authors, artists, and musicians pushing back against the AI industry’s use of their work without permission.
AI leaders argue that the use of copyrighted content falls under “fair use” in copyright law, allowing for the re-use of content if it is substantially changed. However, many creators feel that their work is being stolen to train tools that could ultimately replace them. Suno and Udio allow users to generate full songs by providing text prompts describing the desired genre, lyrics, and instruments. While Suno blocks requests mimicking specific artists, Udio does not have the same restriction, generating songs that sound like they were sung by well-known artists.
Some musicians are advocating for new laws to protect their likeness and music style. In Tennessee, legislators updated a law to specifically prohibit mimicking a musician’s voice without permission. Additionally, a group of federal senators proposed a similar national law to protect musicians’ intellectual property. The music industry is increasingly taking a stand against AI companies using their work without consent, highlighting the ongoing debate over intellectual property rights in the digital age.
