Warner Music Group has announced a partnership with AI music platform Suno, the same company it sued in 2023 alongside Sony Music and Universal Music over alleged large-scale copyright infringement.
Suno, based in Massachusetts, launched in 2023 and claims over 10 million users have created AI-assisted music on its subscription platform. It also raised $125 million in investment last year.
The new deal settles Warner’s lawsuit and includes Suno’s acquisition of concert-listing platform Songkick. The partnership introduces a licensed framework for AI-generated tracks, ensuring artists and songwriters are fairly compensated and retain full control over their music, likeness and copyrights. Suno’s previous open models will be replaced by “advanced, licensed models”. The lawsuits from Sony and Universal will continue.
This follows all three major labels signing a licensing deal with AI startup Klay, designed to respect artists’ rights while exploring AI music innovation, stating that the partnership “enhances human creativity rather than replaces it”.
A recent survey of 9,000 people across eight countries found 97 percent “cannot tell the difference” between AI-generated and real music. Concerns over AI’s impact persist, with studies warning music professionals could lose up to a quarter of their income in the next four years.
In September, Spotify removed 75 million AI-generated or ‘spam’ tracks, including unauthorised uploads on deceased artists’ profiles.
