Warner Music Group (WMG) has settled with AI music startup Suno, paving the way for a joint venture that will allow users to create AI-generated music using the voices, names, and likenesses of artists who opt in..
The deal ends a landmark legal battle that began last year, when Warner, along with Sony Music and Universal Music, sued Suno and similar platform Audio, alleging that AI services were profiting from copying existing songs.
Critics argued that AI-generated music could undermine human songwriters.
Under the new partnership, Suno plans to launch licensed advanced generative AI models in 2026.
Users can create music from a simple description, but full audio requires a paid download, while free tier tracks can still be played and shared.
Warner called the venture a “first-of-its-kind partnership” aimed at breaking “new frontiers in music production” while ensuring artists and songwriters are compensated.
Creators have full control over whether and how their names, images, voices, and songs are used in AI-generated music.
Launched two years ago, Suno currently serves approximately 100 million users. Warner did not reveal which artists had opted into the program.
The agreement also formally resolves previous litigation between the two companies.
The legal battle comes in the wake of industry-wide concerns, with more than 200 artists including Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj calling for restrictions on what they say is predatory AI use in music.
Proponents of AI argue that generative models learn by studying past work, just as humans do.
