YouTube wants record labels to license music for its AI song generator

YouTube is reportedly in negotiations with major record labels to reach a licensing agreement that would allow the company to train its artificial intelligence on artists’ content.

It is a highly controversial and emotive topic, with many artists vehemently opposed to the influence of AI, fearing that it could affect their work, its value and the future prospects of the industry.

YouTube is beating around the bush with AI plans for the music industry

Google-owned YouTube is testing new methods to stop ad blockers, trying to gain the support of a very skeptical industry. One way to do this is to offer upfront payments.

As the Financial TimesThree of the music heavyweights – Sony, Warner and Universal – are said to have been asked to open their portfolio of audio content for delivery by YouTube using its AI software.

What is crucial is that the final say on this issue lies with the artists and not with the labels and whether they participate individually.

In April last year, 200 artists signed an open letter He explained: “We must protect ourselves from the predatory use of AI to steal the voices and images of professional artists, violate the rights of creators and destroy the music ecosystem.”

Conversely, artists like John Legend and Charli XCX agreed to take part in a YouTube pilot when the Dream Track tool was introduced. The generative AI program allowed a select group of artists to pull vocals and lyrics from the artists’ catalog. Although only 10 artists signed up, YouTube claimed there were “dozens” of them willing to collaborate.

Comments from industry insiders on the AI ​​debate

It’s a controversial, complex debate that will not go away, as one executive at a major music label told the FT: “The industry is wrestling with this. Technically, the companies have the copyright, but we have to think about how we deal with it. We don’t want to be seen as Luddites.”

The fact that record companies do not compromise when it comes to protecting their interests was demonstrated, for example, when the major labels Sony and Universal were involved in legal proceedings against the AI ​​music generators Suno and Udio for mass copyright infringements.

Under the umbrella of the Recording Industry Association of America, the plaintiffs are demanding up to $150,000 per infringed work.

Featured image: Ideogram