Musicians Unite Against AI Music Deals: “Stop Misuse of Our Rights”
On June 22, a global coalition of artists, songwriters, and managers convened to issue a letter directed at record labels and publishers involved in artificial intelligence (AI) music licensing agreements. The letter emphasizes the urgent need to “stop the misuse of [our] rights in AI deals,” highlighting a perceived hypocrisy where labels demand permission from AI companies to utilize their music catalog while denying similar rights to the creators themselves.
Growing Concerns Over AI Licensing Deals
The coalition’s letter follows a series of significant licensing agreements between music publishers, record labels, and AI music companies such as Suno, Udio, and ElevenLabs over the past year. Notable deals include Warner Music Group’s agreements with Suno, Klay, and Udio, as well as Universal Music Group’s partnerships with Udio and Spotify. These arrangements have raised alarms among artists and songwriters who feel their rights are being overlooked.
In April, reports surfaced indicating that top talent attorneys had alerted artists that record labels might exploit standard contract language in U.S. agreements to automatically opt in artists’ works for AI training without seeking individual consent. Jason Boyarski, a founding partner at Boyarski Fritz, noted that some labels believe they do not require special approvals for such actions.
Lack of Transparency in AI Training
While many announcements regarding AI partnerships suggest that artists have the option to control the use of their name, image, or likeness, the issue of AI training remains largely unaddressed. Audrey Benoualid, a partner at Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light, pointed out that there is a clear distinction between how inputs for AI training and outputs are treated.
The coalition’s letter expresses concern that artists and songwriters currently under contract are receiving notifications from major labels indicating they will be automatically opted into AI-related uses, often with minimal choice. Furthermore, those entering new agreements are frequently confronted with AI rights clauses as standard conditions.
Imbalance of Power
The letter asserts that this situation creates a significant imbalance, as artists are being asked to provide consent without adequate information, clear terms, or guaranteed compensation. The coalition advocates for three fundamental principles that they urge music companies, publishers, policymakers, and AI firms to uphold: consent and control, fair compensation, and clarity and transparency.
The letter calls for a public commitment from these entities to adhere to specific guidelines in AI licensing deals. These include prohibiting default opt-ins, banning forced AI clauses, and ensuring that artists’ work, voice, performance, likeness, or creative identity is not utilized without meaningful consent, fair remuneration, and full transparency.
The Future of Music
The coalition emphasizes that the future of music should be shaped collaboratively with artists, songwriters, and their representatives, rather than being imposed upon them. The letter concludes with a call for the protection of artists’ rights, voices, and remuneration, especially as policymakers review copyright regulations in light of AI advancements.
The signatories of the letter include prominent organizations such as the European Music Managers Alliance, the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, and the Music Artists Coalition, among others.
For further details on this developing story, visit Billboard.
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Published on 2026-06-22 10:00:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk