Universal Music Group, led by chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, is collaborating with Los Angeles-based AI music company Klay Vision on what they described as “a pioneering ethical business foundational model for AI-generated music that works in collaboration with the music industry and its creators.”
Klay is positioning itself to become “the backbone of a new era of innovation, powering new products and experiences, committed to the premise that artificial intelligence can strengthen and grow human musical creativity and artistry,” the partners said . Monday's press release even called Klay an “ethical AI-powered music company.”
The two companies said they share “a belief that fundamental, cutting-edge AI models are best built and scaled responsibly through constructive dialogue and consensus with those responsible for the artistry shaping global culture.” They added: “Building generative AI music models ethically and fully respectful of copyright, as well as name and likeness rights, will dramatically reduce the threat to human creators and offer the greatest opportunity for transformation, creating significant new avenues for creativity and future monetization. of copyright”.
Klay is led by executives from the music and technology industries, including music producer and technology visionary Ary Attie, Thomas Hesse, former president of Sony Music Entertainment, and Björn Winckler, who will soon join the company from Google Deepmind.
“Klay is committed to serving artists and songwriters and those who support them, including music publishers and labels, distributors and other rights holders across the major and independent label landscape,” the company said. “Klay is developing a global ecosystem to host AI-powered experiences and content, including accurate attribution, and will not compete with artist catalogs on traditional music services.”
Michael Nash, executive vice president and chief digital officer of Universal Music Group (UMG), said the music giant is excited “to explore new opportunities and ethical solutions for artists and the broader music ecosystem by advancing music technology. 'generative artificial intelligence in copyright-compliant ways'. and have the potential to have a profound impact on human creativity. UMG has always sought to lead the music industry in promoting innovation, embracing new technologies and supporting entrepreneurship, while protecting the human art.”
Attie, founder and CEO of Klay, added: “Research is critical to building the foundation for AI-powered music, but the technology is only an empty vessel when it doesn't engage with the culture it's supposed to serve. Klay's obsession is not only to showcase his innovation in research, but to make it invisible and fundamental to people's daily lives. Only then can musical AI become more than a short-lived gimmick. Our great artists have always embraced the latest technologies: we believe the next Beatles will play with Klay.”
Klay said he is developing a new Large Music Model (KLayMM) to advance cutting-edge music AI. “The company is currently under wraps, but plans to launch a product in the coming months that will revolutionize the way people think about music by presenting a new and intuitive music experience,” he added.
On Friday, UMG launched Brenda Lee's Swinging around the Christmas tree in Spanish for the first time using SoundLabs' AI technology, fully approved by the artist.
Universal has partnered with new AI companies committed to respecting and helping maximize the commercial impact and reach that responsibly trained AI can bring to artists. Its deals have landed with the likes of YouTube/Google, ProRata.AI, Endel, SoundLabs, BandLabs and Roland.
UMG is also in litigation with Anthropic AI, as well as being part of an industry-wide action against Suno and Udio.