YouTube is discussing deals with music labels to get permission to use their songs in AI tools that replicate popular artists’ music. The goal is to convince a hesitant music industry by offering upfront payments.
The video platform, owned by Google, aims at the legal development of AI programs that create songs. It plans to introduce these new tools later this year, as reported by The Financial Times.
Recently, YouTube has proposed compensating major labels like Sony, Warner, and Universal. The goal is to encourage more artists to use their music in training AI software.
However, many artists strongly oppose AI-generated music. They worry it could lower the value of their work. Forcing artists into these agreements would be highly controversial for any label.
“The industry is wrestling with this. Technically the companies have the copyrights, but we have to think through how to play it,” commented an executive from a major music company. “We don’t want to be seen as a Luddite.”
YouTube’s Dream Track tool to make short music clips using AI
Last year, YouTube tested a generative AI tool that allowed users to create short music clips by typing in text prompts. The tool, originally called “Dream Track,” was designed to mimic the sound and lyrics of famous singers.
However, only ten artists, including Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, and John Legend, agreed to participate in the test phase. Dream Track was available to only a small group of creators.
⭐️AI News
YouTube's trying to sweet-talk record labels into an AI music deal.
Looks like YouTube's ready to crank up the AI tunes, but they need the music industry's blessing first. It's all about getting that sweet, sweet licensing for AI-generated tracks. pic.twitter.com/HkwFoM7NWd— Yuki (@yukitaylor00) June 28, 2024
YouTube now aims to sign up “dozens” of artists to launch a new AI song generator later this year.
YouTube explained, “We’re not looking to expand Dream Track but are in conversations with labels about other experiments.”
YouTube trying to make new agreements with major labels
YouTube is pursuing new agreements at a time when AI companies, including OpenAI, are securing licenses with media organizations to train advanced language models, such as those behind AI products like ChatGPT. Insiders suggest that some of these agreements are valued at tens of millions of dollars.
In contrast, the music deals under negotiation would not be broad licenses covering all content but rather agreements tailored to specific groups of artists, according to some sources familiar with the discussions.
It will be the responsibility of the labels to motivate their artists to join these new projects. At this time, it remains to be seen how much compensation YouTube would offer the labels.
These agreements would resemble the upfront, one-time payments entertainment groups obtain from companies like Meta and Snap in exchange for providing access to their own music. This differs from royalty-based arrangements labels typically have with platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, as reported by The Financial Times.
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