Spotify and Universal Music strike deal allowing fan-made AI covers and remixes
Key takeaways
- The company did not share pricing or a launch date for the new tool, only that the two companies had come to a licensing agreement.
- The AI tools would be created through upfront agreements, not by asking for forgiveness later, Spotify said at the time, an obvious swipe at other players in the space, like Suno.
- Among the principles Spotify outlined: artists and rightsholders should be able to choose if and how they participate in AI tools, and if they do, they should be fairly compensated.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Watch out, Suno. Spotify on Thursday announced it has partnered with Universal Music Group (UMG) to allow fans to use generative AI technology to create covers and remixes of their favorite songs. The tool will launch as a paid add-on available only to Spotify s Premium subscribers and will offer a revenue share with participating artists for the AI-generated music based on their work.
The company did not share pricing or a launch date for the new tool, only that the two companies had come to a licensing agreement. However, Spotify had teased its plans last year, noting that it was working with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, Merlin, and Believe to develop artist-first AI products.
The AI tools would be created through upfront agreements, not by asking for forgiveness later, Spotify said at the time, an obvious swipe at other players in the space, like Suno.