Warner Music partners with Suno on AI-generated tracks after lawsuit settlement

Warner Music partners with Suno on AI-generated tracks after lawsuit settlement

Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with AI music startup Suno, marking a dramatic shift after suing the company just last year in a high-profile copyright dispute. The deal will allow users to create AI-generated music using the voices, names, and likenesses of participating artists, the label revealed in a statement on Wednesday.

Settlement terms and new AI models

Under the agreement, Suno will introduce advanced, licensed AI models in 2026, replacing its current system. The Massachusetts-based platform, which boasts 100 million users, enables music creation from simple text prompts. While free-tier users can still stream and share tracks, paid downloads will now be required for offline use.

Warner emphasized that artists retain "full control" over the use of their identities and works in AI-generated content. The company framed the collaboration as a "first-of-its-kind partnership" that balances innovation with fair compensation for creators, though it did not disclose which of its artists-including Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran-have opted into the program.

Industry tensions over AI-generated music

The settlement resolves litigation filed in 2024 by Warner, Sony Music, and Universal Music Group against Suno and rival platform Udio. The labels accused the startups of "wholesale theft," alleging their AI tools replicated copyrighted songs without permission. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which coordinated the lawsuit, has not yet commented on the agreement.

Critics of AI music generation, including over 200 artists like Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj, previously condemned the technology as "predatory" in an open letter. Proponents, however, argue that AI learning from existing works mirrors human creative processes.

"Artists and songwriters will have full control over whether and how their names, images, likenesses, voices, and compositions are used in new AI-generated music."

Warner Music Group statement

What's next for AI in music

The deal signals a potential thaw in the industry's stance on generative AI, though debates over copyright and compensation persist. Warner's framework-prioritizing artist consent and monetization-could set a precedent for future collaborations between labels and AI platforms.