Warner Music Group (WMG) revealed on Wednesday that it has resolved a copyright dispute with AI music company Udio. Alongside the settlement, the two organizations have agreed to a licensing partnership for an AI-driven music creation platform expected to debut in 2026.
According to WMG’s announcement, this “next-generation platform for music creation, listening, and discovery” will utilize generative AI models that are trained exclusively on music that is both licensed and authorized.
The company states that this platform will open up “fresh income opportunities for artists and songwriters, while safeguarding their creative output.”
Through this subscription-based service, users will be able to craft remixes, covers, and original tracks using the voices and compositions of participating artists and songwriters. Warner Music Group emphasizes that the platform will guarantee proper credit and payment for creators.
“We remain steadfast in defending the rights of our artists and songwriters, and Udio has made significant efforts to ensure all music on its platform is properly licensed and authorized,” stated WMG CEO Robert Kyncl in the release. “This partnership fits within our broader mission to responsibly harness AI’s capabilities — opening up new creative and business opportunities while continuing to provide fans with innovative experiences.”
WMG’s roster features artists such as Lady Gaga, Coldplay, The Weeknd, Sabrina Carpenter, among others.
“This alliance is an important milestone toward a future where technology enhances creativity and expands possibilities for artists and songwriters,” commented Udio co-founder and CEO Andrew Sanchez in the statement. “Our upcoming platform will let fans collaborate with their favorite artists and create remarkable music in a space where artists maintain both control and engagement.”
This agreement signals a major change in how the music industry is approaching AI. Last year, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment filed lawsuits against Udio and competing AI music service Suno for alleged copyright violations. Both services enable users to produce songs through AI-generated text prompts. Reports indicate that Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment are also in discussions to license their catalogs to Udio and Suno.
Demonstrating growing investor trust in AI-powered music, Suno disclosed earlier on Wednesday that it has secured $250 million in Series C funding, valuing the company at $2.45 billion post-investment. The round was led by Menlo Ventures, with support from Nvidia’s NVentures, Hallwood Media, Lightspeed, and Matrix.
