Spotify Teams Up With Sony, Universal, Warner, Merlin & Believe For Landmark 'Artist-First' AI Music Products

Spotify has partnered with major labels Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, as well as digital rights music licensing partner Merlin and digital music company Believe, to develop “responsible, artist-first” AI products.

In a press release, the aim behind the collaboration was detailed: “Some voices in the tech industry believe copyright should be abolished. We don’t. Musicians’ rights matter. Copyright is essential.”

Together, Spotify, the three major labels, Merlin and Believe added: “If the music industry doesn’t lead in this moment, AI-powered innovation will happen elsewhere, without rights, consent, or compensation. Together with rightsholders, artists, and songwriters, we are making significant investments in AI research and product development.”

Products created through this collaboration are designed to put artists and songwriters first by partnering with record labels, distributors, and publishers.

This partnership allows artists and rightsholders to have a choice in how AI tools align with the people behind the music, ensuring fair compensation and new revenue streams, as well as developing new ways to connect artists with their fans.

Today’s announcement comes after Spotify revealed a string of new measures to strengthen AI protections for artists last month, removing more than 75 million “spammy” tracks from the service and creating clear guidelines around the use of AI and artist impersonation.

Spotify is building a “state-of-the-art generative AI research lab” as well as a product team that’s focused on developing technologies that reflect the streamer’s principles and “create breakthrough experiences for fans and artists.”

The streaming giant says its goal is “to ensure the future of music innovation happens responsibly, and to invite the best minds in AI to help build it.”

In a statement, Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström said that technology should serve artists, “not the other way around,” and said the company’s focus is on ensuring that innovation supports artists by “protecting their rights, respecting their creative choices, and creating new ways for fans to discover and enjoy the music they love.”

Spotify Co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström echoed the sentiment, describing AI as the “most consequential technology shift since the smartphone” that’s reshaping how music is created and experienced.

He continued, “Our company brings deep research expertise to this opportunity and we’re actively growing our AI team and capabilities to drive the continued growth of the entire music ecosystem.”

Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer said the major is “pleased to be collaborating with Spotify” in developing responsible generative AI offerings.

“This is an acknowledgement that direct licensing in advance of launching new products is the only appropriate way to build them and demonstrates how a properly functioning market benefits everyone in the ecosystem and fuels innovation. We appreciate and applaud Spotify’s leadership at this critical period,” Stringer explained.

Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said, “I commend Daniel [Ek], Alex and Gustav on taking these critical steps forward to advance this approach. It is essential that we work with strategic partners such as Spotify to enable Gen AI products within a thriving commercial landscape in which artists, songwriters, fans, music companies and technology companies can all flourish.”

Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl said the company has been working on ensuring that AI works for “artists and songwriters, not against them.” To Warner, that’s meant collaboration with partners who “understand the necessity for new AI licensing deals that protect and compensate rightsholders and the creative community. We support Spotify’s thoughtful AI guardrails and welcome the opportunity to pioneer the future together.”