YouTube is in music licensing negotiations with Sony, Warner and Universal to release an AI-generated music tool that mimics artists' music in 2024

YouTube is developing AI-based music generation tools and is looking to expand its 'Dream Track' AI tool, which allows users to input text and generate short music clips that mimic the musical styles of famous artists. It has been reported that YouTube is in negotiations with major record companies such as Sony, Warner and Universal to obtain licenses to use more artists' music as training data for its AI.

YouTube talks with record labels over AI music deal
https://www.ft.com/content/e2d9472d-32e0-43f5-8109-efb753fac330

YouTube talks with major labels to license songs for AI tools: report
https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/1050660/youtube-in-talks-with-major-labels-to-license-songs-for-ai-tools-report-1050660.html

Dream Track is an AI tool developed by Google DeepMind in November 2023. Simply enter the genre, atmosphere, and topic of the music you want to generate and select the artist who will provide the vocals, and it will generate a song of up to 30 seconds for YouTube Shorts.

Google DeepMind announces 'Lyria', an AI model specialized in music generation, which generates melodies just by humming - GIGAZINE

Below is a song that Dream Track actually generated by imitating Charlie Puth 's voice and style.

Introducing Dream Track - an experiment on YouTube Shorts - featuring Charlie Puth - YouTube


However, more than 200 prominent artists have issued a statement condemning AI tools like Dream Track, saying that the use of AI 'infringes on the rights of human artists and could devalue music, so the use of AI should be refrained from.'

More than 200 celebrities, including Billie Eilish and Stevie Wonder, sign letter condemning 'predatory AI' that steals audio and replaces artists - GIGAZINE

YouTube is looking to incorporate Dream Truck into its TikTok rival YouTube Shorts, and is reportedly in talks with major record labels, including Sony, Warner Bros. and Universal, to obtain licenses to use artists' music as training data.

According to the Financial Times, YouTube is proposing to pay record labels a lump sum that would be different from the royalty-based arrangements typically used by streaming services and more similar to the one-time payments that social media companies like Meta and Snap make to entertainment companies for access to music.

It's important to note that these deals aren't blanket licenses, but rather apply only to a select few artists, meaning how much YouTube ultimately pays could vary depending on how many artists record labels can persuade to participate.

However, the music industry remains tough on AI companies, with Sony, Warner and Universal all suing music-generating AI services Suno and Udio for copyright infringement, so it's entirely possible that record labels may refuse to negotiate with YouTube.

Music-generating AI services 'Suno' and 'Udio' sued by major music companies such as Sony, Warner and Universal for copyright infringement - GIGAZINE