YouTube’s Push for More AI-Generated Music Meets Resistance from Artists and Record Labels

YouTube’s Dream Track project, which launched last year with the backing of 10 artists, demonstrated the potential of AI to create original music. The Google-owned platform is now looking to expand on this project by seeking permission from major labels to clone even more musicians. Instead of expanding Dream Track, YouTube aims to continue discussions with labels for more experiments. The plan is to license songs from “dozens” of artists to train new AI tools that will be launched later this year.

In exchange for licensing songs for training purposes, YouTube is prepared to pay substantial sums of money to Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records. The exact amount of the licensing fees has not been disclosed, but YouTube seems to favor one-time payments over royalty-based agreements. This payment strategy may be aimed at overcoming potential resistance from record labels. Despite YouTube’s eagerness, both artists and labels may need time to be convinced.

Sony Music, for instance, has cautioned against unauthorized use of its content by AI companies in the past. UMG also temporarily removed its music catalog from TikTok due to concerns surrounding AI-generated music protection. In a contrasting move, more than 200 artists have called on tech companies to halt the use of AI to infringe upon the rights of human artists. The delicate balance between technological innovation and protecting artists’ rights is evident in this ongoing debate.

YouTube’s negotiations with major labels come shortly after the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) filed copyright infringement lawsuits against two prominent generative AI music companies. Suno and Udio are accused of using unauthorized copies of sound recordings to produce music on a large scale. The labels are seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringement in these lawsuits.