Meta and Universal Music Group Strengthen Partnership to Tackle AI-Generated Music Issues
Ibrahim Awotunde
Meta and Universal Music Group (UMG) have recently expanded their long-standing music licensing agreement, a move that underscores their commitment to protecting artists’ rights in the era of artificial intelligence.
This enhanced collaboration allows users to share songs from UMG’s vast music catalog across Meta’s platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, Horizon, Threads, and WhatsApp—without infringing on copyrights.
Addressing AI-Generated Music Concerns
A significant aspect of this new agreement is the joint effort to combat the rise of unauthorized AI-generated content.
As AI technology continues to advance, there has been growing concern over the unauthorized use of artists’ work, particularly in the creation of AI-generated songs.
These songs are often created by scraping the original content without the consent of the creators, posing a significant threat to the music industry.
Michael Nash, UMG’s Chief Digital Officer and Executive Vice President, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We look forward to continuing to work together to address unauthorized AI-generated content that could affect artists and songwriters so that UMG can continue to protect their rights both now and in the future.”
A Broader Industry Context
This partnership comes on the heels of a high-profile dispute earlier this year between UMG and TikTok, which saw UMG’s catalog temporarily removed from the popular video-sharing platform. UMG had expressed concerns over AI and online safety, leading to a temporary standoff.
The dispute was resolved in May, with music from prominent artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift returning to TikTok.
The agreement also follows a recent lawsuit filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against AI music generation startups Udio and Suno, alleging that these companies trained their AI models using copyrighted music without authorization.
Sudo, one of the startups, has admitted to using copyrighted songs, but claims it was legal under the fair use doctrine.
Meta’s Ethical Approach to AI Music
Meta, for its part, is positioning itself as a responsible player in the AI music space. The company has developed generative AI models—such as AudioCraft, MusicGen, and Jasco—that are trained exclusively on music that Meta either owns or has specifically licensed. Despite this, there are concerns about potential misuse, with Meta acknowledging that its AudioCraft model could be used to create deepfakes of voices.
Expanding Music Sharing Across Meta’s Ecosystem
In addition to tackling AI-related issues, the expanded agreement marks the first time that WhatsApp users will be able to share licensed music from UMG within the app.
This new feature extends to Threads, Meta’s social networking app designed to rival X (formerly Twitter), further integrating music sharing across Meta’s ecosystem.
A Continuing Partnership
Meta and UMG’s relationship dates back to 2017, when they first partnered to allow Facebook users to upload and share videos featuring songs from UMG’s catalog.
This latest agreement not only strengthens that partnership but also highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities in the digital music landscape, particularly as AI continues to reshape the industry.
As the music industry navigates the complexities of AI and digital rights, this collaboration between Meta and UMG sets a precedent for how technology companies and content creators can work together to protect and enhance the value of artistic work.
