NEW YORK — Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced a new joint venture with the AI music platform Suno, marking the resolution of a legal dispute between the two companies that began a year ago.
As part of the settlement, Warner will allow users to create AI-generated music on Suno using the voices, names, and likenesses of artists who opt into the programme. The record label, which represents major stars like Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran, had previously filed a lawsuit against Suno and another AI music platform, Udio, alongside other industry giants such as Sony Music.
The use of artificial intelligence to generate music has been a contentious issue, with many artists raising concerns that it could undermine the role of human songwriters. In response, Warner has stated that artists and songwriters will have full control over whether and how their work, including names, images, voices, and compositions, are used in AI-generated content.
Suno, which has around 100 million users, will launch its new advanced AI models in 2026. These models will require users to pay for audio downloads, though songs on the platform’s free tier will still be available for listening and sharing.
This partnership is being billed as a “first-of-its-kind” collaboration that aims to open new opportunities in music creation while ensuring that artists are fairly compensated for their contributions. Warner did not disclose which artists have opted into the programme, but the deal also resolves the ongoing litigation between the companies.
The legal battle began in 2024 when Warner, Sony Music, and Universal Music Group filed lawsuits against Udio and Suno, accusing them of profiting from the unauthorised reproduction of songs. The labels described the AI-generated music as a form of “wholesale theft” that threatened the integrity of the music industry.
The lawsuit followed a letter signed by 200 artists, including Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj, who condemned the “predatory” use of AI in the music industry. Supporters of AI music creation, however, argue that machine learning is similar to how humans learn from previous works.
With this new agreement, Warner Music Group is taking a step towards embracing AI technology while ensuring that artists’ rights are respected.
Key Points of the Warner-Suno Partnership
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| New Venture | Warner Music Group partners with AI company Suno. |
| Settlement | The agreement resolves the lawsuit filed by Warner against Suno and Udio. |
| Artist Consent | Artists who opt in will allow their names, voices, and likenesses to be used in AI-generated music. |
| Suno’s Growth | Suno has 100 million users and will launch a new AI model in 2026. |
| Free and Paid Tiers | Free tier allows sharing and listening; paid downloads will be introduced for audio downloads. |
| Legal Background | Warner, Sony, and Universal sued Suno and Udio in 2024 for “wholesale theft” of music by AI platforms. |
| AI Concerns | Many artists have raised concerns about AI replacing human songwriters. |