Major record labels, represented by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), have filed copyright infringement lawsuits against two AI startups, Suno and Udio. These companies are accused of using copyrighted music from labels like Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, and Warner Records without authorization to train their AI systems in creating music.
Udio, known for creating the viral AI-generated song “BBL Drizzy” during recent music industry news, was founded by former Google DeepMind researchers with a mission to democratize music creation. They raised $10 million in funding in April, while Suno, a platform that leverages OpenAI’s ChatGPT for song lyric and title generation, secured $125 million in funding just last month.
RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier emphasized the lawsuits’ importance in upholding ethical standards in AI development and protecting artists’ rights. He highlighted ongoing efforts within the music community to collaborate with responsible AI developers while condemning unauthorized use of artists’ work.
Earlier this year, over 200 artists, including Billie Eilish and Katy Perry, expressed concerns over AI’s potential to undermine artists’ rights in an open letter organized by the Artist Rights Alliance. The lawsuit against Udio underscores the need for AI tools to be developed collaboratively with copyright holders to foster innovation while respecting intellectual property rights.