Warner Music and Suno launch joint AI-music project after legal settlement

Staff Report: PNN

Warner Music Group (WMG) and technology startup Suno are launching an AI-based music project, a year after settling a legal dispute.

Under the agreement, users on Suno’s platform can create AI-generated music using the voices, names, and likenesses of artists who consent to participate. Warner Music’s roster includes global stars such as Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran.

AI-generated music has been controversial, with many artists expressing concerns that it could replace human musicians.

According to Warner, Suno will launch its new licensed AI model next year, allowing users to generate music based on simple descriptions. Users will pay to download audio, though free-tier songs will remain available for listening and sharing.

Warner emphasized, “This first-of-its-kind partnership will open new horizons in music creation and ensure fair compensation for the creative community.”

Participating artists and musicians retain full control over how their names, images, voices, and works are used in AI-generated music. This project resolves previous litigation between the two companies.

Previously, Suno and similar platforms like Udio faced lawsuits from Warner, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group, alleging that AI-generated songs copied existing works and closely resembled real artists’ creations.

The legal dispute arose as approximately 200 artists, including Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj, published an open letter in 2024 against predatory AI use. Supporters of the project argue that computer machine learning can study, listen, and observe previous works, learning like a human.