According to , Sony Music has sent letters to hundreds of tech companies warning them not to use their content without permission. bloomberg, I obtained a copy of the letter.
The letter, sent to more than 700 AI companies and streaming platforms, said the “misappropriation” of Sony Music's content by AI systems denies labels and artists “control and compensation” for their work. According to the letter, bloomberg, It calls for “training, developing, or commercializing AI systems” that use copyrighted materials such as music, art, and lyrics. Sony Music artists include Doja Cat, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, Lil Nas X, and more. Sony Music did not respond to a request for comment.
The music industry has been particularly active in efforts to control how copyrighted works are used when it comes to AI tools. On YouTube, where the musician's AI voice clone exploded last year, labels have mediated a strict set of rules that apply to the music industry (others have had looser protections). At the same time, the platform introduced his AI music tools like Dream Track, which generates songs in the style of a small number of artists based on text prompts.
Perhaps the most visible example of a battle over music copyright and AI is on TikTok. Universal Music Group removed all of the artist's music from its platform in February after licensing negotiations broke down. Songs from artists like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande disappeared from the platform, and viral videos went silent.
But that absence didn't last long, as Swift's music quietly returned to TikTok ahead of the release of her new album in April (barring some promotion). By early May, the conflict was resolved and UMG artists returned to TikTok. The two companies say they have reached an agreement to strengthen AI-related protections and “new monetization opportunities” related to e-commerce.
“TikTok and UMG are collaborating to ensure that AI developments across the music industry protect human artistry and the economics that flow to artists and songwriters,” the press release reads.
Beyond copyright, AI-generated voice cloning used to create new songs is raising questions about how much control humans have over their own voices. AI companies trained their models on recording libraries and allowed the public to use them to generate new material, often without consent. But even asserting publicity and publicity rights can be difficult in the United States, given the patchwork of laws that vary from state to state.
