Universal Music and ElevenLabs announced the first AI fan remix platform built around actual licensing rather than lawsuits, and if it ships with real catalog depth, it could change what content creators can legally do with the music they love. This is quite an interesting announcement. First, it’s smart of ElevenLabs (a prime mover in the AI audio space) to ink a deal like this, not only for visibility but also to expand their product offerings.
From Universal Music’s perspective, it does give them more control over their digital assets and licenses… supposedly. There is a lot of backlash right now over AI-generated music (songs, albums, and even complete artists). Music lovers are often unaware that music is AI-created, and when they learn the truth, they are either angry or indifferent (some may still continue liking it).
My solution is pretty simple. Make a new category in the Grammys for AI Music/Artists. Make it completely transparent to the end user and music listeners. Let people vote on those AI submissions. Then make it clear across all streaming platforms. If it is clear and out in the open, perhaps the backlash will die down a bit.