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US musicians’ union sues Universal and Warner over AI deals, claims breach of ‘new use’ clause in record industry’s performer agreement

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American Federation Of Musicians • 3 min read

US musicians’ union sues Universal and Warner over AI deals, claims breach of ‘new use’ clause in record industry’s performer agreement

As the majors start to do deals with AI companies, artists are increasingly concerned about how those deals work and how the money will be shared. Now the American Federation Of Musicians has gone legal, claiming Universal and Warner have breached a ‘new use’ provision in their musicians’ agreement…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jun 2026

AI music creation platform Udio signs deal with indie label licensing body Merlin

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Udio • 2 min read

AI music creation platform Udio signs deal with indie label licensing body Merlin

Udio has announced a licensing deal with Merlin, which means many indie labels and distributors will now be able to participate in the relaunch of the AI platform as an industry-endorsed service. Merlin says the deal shows it is “committed to participating in shaping the opportunities AI promises”…

Chris Cooke • 20 Jan 2026

Stream-ripper Yout says Suno and Udio have criticism “precisely right” over ruling in legal battle with major labels

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Suno • 2 min read

Stream-ripper Yout says Suno and Udio have criticism “precisely right” over ruling in legal battle with major labels

Suno and Udio recently sought to intervene in the major labels’ legal dispute with stream-ripper Yout, because a ruling in that case impacts on their own legal battles with the majors. Yout has now welcomed that intervention, but the majors say the AI companies are wrong about stream-ripping rules…

Chris Cooke • 03 Dec 2025

North American songwriter groups join call for transparency and creator consent as music companies start signing AI deals

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MCNA • 3 min read

North American songwriter groups join call for transparency and creator consent as music companies start signing AI deals

Music Creators North America have called on labels and publishers to commit to deal transparency and creator consent around any agreements they reach with AI companies, such as Universal’s deal with Udio. They join the US Music Artists Coalition and UK Council Of Music Makers in making those demands…

Chris Cooke • 14 Nov 2025

Artists must have creative control in AI deals or risk ending up with “scraps”, says US artist trade body

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Music Artists Coalition • 3 min read

Artists must have creative control in AI deals or risk ending up with “scraps”, says US artist trade body

Last week Universal Music settled its legal dispute with AI company Udio and licensed a new AI-powered music service that Udio will launch next year. While it’s good Udio is engaging with the industry, that deal raises an assortment of concerns and questions, says the US Music Artists Coalition…

Chris Cooke • 03 Nov 2025

Universal has settled its lawsuit with Udio, and signed AI deals with Udio and Stability

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Universal has settled its lawsuit with Udio, and signed AI deals with Udio and Stability

Universal has announced big AI deals with Udio and Stability. The Udio agreement brings to an end the major’s legal battle with the AI start-up which was accused of copyright infringement. As the majors start to do deals like these, the debate around music creator consent in AI will get more heated…

Chris Cooke • 30 Oct 2025

New Udio lawsuit hones in on the “significant and unequal harm” inflicted on independent musicians by music AI

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Udio • 3 min read

New Udio lawsuit hones in on the “significant and unequal harm” inflicted on independent musicians by music AI

Udio has been sued again for copyright infringement, this time by a group of independent artists and songwriters. Although the majors are already suing Udio, the music creators say that their lawsuit “emphasises the significant and unequal harm inflicted on independent musicians by AI”…

Chris Cooke • 17 Oct 2025

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Suno • 4 min read

Having been accused of stream-ripping by the majors, Suno and Udio intervene in high profile stream-ripper case

The major labels recently added stream-ripping allegations to their Suno and Udio lawsuits. The AI start-ups say the majors’ new claims are invalid, but fear that a ruling in an earlier legal battle involving stream-ripper Yout could open them to liability. So they want that earlier ruling changed…

Chris Cooke • 13 Oct 2025

Musician sues Suno and Udio, says indie artists have been “trampled the most” by unlicensed AI

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

Musician sues Suno and Udio, says indie artists have been “trampled the most” by unlicensed AI

A musician has sued Suno and Udio, filing a class action lawsuit against the AI companies that seeks to represent all indie artists in the US. Although the majors are already suing both start-ups, Anthony Justice argues that it’s independent artists whose rights have “been trampled the most” by AI…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jun 2025

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

The majors are involved in licensing negotiations with the two music AI companies they sued last year, Udio and Suno. But will they consult music creators before agreeing any deals? Artist and songwriter organisations fear not, but insist that creator consent must be secured before signing any deals…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

Op-ed: Jonathan Coote of Bray & Krais on AI and fair use

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Op-Eds • 5 min read

Op-ed: Jonathan Coote of Bray & Krais on AI and fair use

As the Suno and Udio lawsuits make their way through the courts, the fundamental issue in the cases is likely to be whether the 'fair use' defence can be successfully run for the training of AI tools on copyright works. Jonathan Coote examines the issue in more detail…

CMU Contributors • 03 Sep 2024

Suno and Udio’s training admission is a “major concession” says RIAA

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Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

Suno and Udio’s training admission is a “major concession” says RIAA

Suno and Udio yesterday filed responses to the lawsuits filed against them by the major record companies, presenting a fair use defence and accusing the majors of anticompetitive conduct. The RIAA has responded, saying the responses contain a “major concession”, but mainly continue to mislead…

Chris Cooke • 02 Aug 2024