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Google and Universal Music Group (UMG) are reportedly in talks to partner on licensing artists’ voices for AI-generated music. According to the Financial Times, the agreement would involve Google paying licensing fees to UMG so that users can create new songs using AI with musicians’ voices and melodies. Warner Music is also reportedly in discussions with Google regarding an AI music tool.
Concerns have been raised in the music industry about ownership and reputational harm due to the rise of audio deepfakes and generative AI. An incident earlier this year involved a deepfake of a song featuring Drake and The Weeknd, which was taken down from streaming platforms for copyright infringement. UMG, representing Drake, criticized the deepfake and emphasized the legal and ethical responsibility of platforms to prevent harm to artists.
UMG’s potential agreement with Google aims to allow the legitimate use of artists’ voices, but questions remain about reputation protection and artists’ profit from licensing revenue. While some musicians like Drake oppose AI use to recreate their voices, others like Grimes are open to collaboration with fans through generative AI.
Licensing agreements may address the legal challenges of AI-generated music, yet ethical concerns persist in the entertainment industry. Instances of AI-generated content falsely attributed to authors, as seen with Jane Friedman, and the SAG-AFTRA strike triggered by a proposal to use AI-generated likenesses of actors highlight the growing ethical dilemmas in the industry.
