YouTube is set to continue its experiments with AI-generated music, after seeking permission from major labels to license songs from “dozens” of artists. The platform has already showcased the potential of AI in creating original music through its Dream Track project, which featured 10 artists like Charli XCX and John Legend.
To acquire these songs for training purposes, YouTube is willing to pay substantial sums to major labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records. While the specifics of these licensing deals have not been disclosed, it seems that YouTube is preferring one-time payments over royalty-based agreements to gain favor with the labels. This approach aims to overcome potential resistance from the record labels, as seen in past conflicts between artists and AI companies.
However, not all artists and labels are on board with the idea of using AI in music creation. Sony Music has warned against unauthorized use of their content by AI companies, and in January, over 200 artists called on tech companies to respect human artists’ rights and not devalue their work with AI-generated music. This tension between innovation and artist protection is further highlighted by recent lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America against leading AI companies in music for copyright infringement.
Despite these challenges and pushback, YouTube is continuing its negotiations with major labels to further develop AI tools for music creation. The outcome of these discussions and the impact on the music industry remains to be seen.
