Google’s parent company Alphabet and Universal Music are engaged in discussions to secure licenses for artists’ voices and melodies to be used in AI-generated songs, according to a report from the Financial Times citing sources familiar with the matter.
The music industry is grappling with the emergence of “deepfake” songs, which are created using generative AI and replicate artists’ voices, often without their explicit consent.
The primary objective of these discussions is to create a legitimate tool that enables fans to produce tracks using these licensed elements and ensure proper compensation to copyright owners. The report notes that artists would be given the choice to participate in this process.
Talks between Google and Universal Music are in the early stages, and there are no immediate plans for a product launch. Additionally, the report mentions that Warner Music is also engaged in discussions with Google regarding a similar product.
