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Labels Are Talking to AI Companies & Maybe Licensing Your Sound

Imagine this: the record label you’re signed to licenses its catalog to an AI platform. That platform uses your music, your voice, your beat, your vibe, to train its system. Suddenly, there’s an AI-generated song out there that sounds a lot like you. You didn’t agree to it. You didn’t get paid for it. But it’s happening.

According to TechCrunch, Billboard, and Bloomberg, major record labels, Universal, Warner, and Sony, are now in talks with AI music companies like Udio and Suno. These platforms generate full songs using AI, and they want access to the real stuff, your music, to feed their models.

That means your catalog could become AI training material if your label signs on.

Why artists need to care:

  • This isn’t illegal. These are real, formal licensing deals, not stolen uploads or bootlegs. But that also means…
  • This could be happening without you knowing.
    Depending on your contract, your label may already have the right to use your work this way, and to keep the licensing revenue.
  • AI doesn’t need to sample you directly to sound like you.
    If you’re in the same genre, vocal range, or style as what it’s learning from, the output could still mimic your sound.
  • Money might move, without you seeing it.
    Unless your contract specifically covers AI use or royalty splits from licensing to machine-learning platforms, the money may stop at the label.

What you can do:

Pull your contracts. Look for terms like:

  • “Future technologies”
  • “Derivative works”
  • “AI or machine learning”
  • “Licensing to third parties”

Ask questions. If you’re signed, ask your label or publisher directly what their policy is on AI licensing. If you’re independent, check what rights your distributor holds.

Stay informed. These talks are happening now. Artists who don’t ask until after the deal is done may find their sound was licensed without ever being looped in.

Zamani Thomas specializes in intellectual property and entertainment law and is the founder of The Creative Docket publishing platform.