The music industry and artificial intelligence companies are converging on a single principle: artists must be treated as partners, not casualties, in the AI era. At the UN's AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva on July 9, a panel featuring EGOT-winning artist John Legend, Universal Music Group (UMG) executives, and leaders from Udio, Stability AI, Splice, and NVIDIA discussed how to build AI tools that empower rather than exploit creators.

Why Are Music Industry Giants Suddenly Partnering With AI Companies?

Just two years ago, UMG and other major record labels sued Udio and Suno for copyright infringement over their use of copyrighted music to train AI models. The legal landscape has shifted dramatically. UMG settled with Udio in October 2025 and has since struck partnerships with multiple AI firms, signaling a fundamental change in how the industry approaches generative music technology.

The partnerships announced since 2025 include deals with Stability AI, Splice, NVIDIA, BandLab, SoundLabs, and KLAY Vision. Each partnership reflects a different approach to licensing, artist compensation, and creative control. The UMG-Udio licensed AI music platform is set to launch this year, marking the first major collaboration between a major label and an AI music company operating under a formal licensing agreement.

What Do These Companies Actually Promise to Do Differently?

The panel revealed three core commitments that distinguish these licensed partnerships from earlier, lawsuit-triggering approaches:

• Artist Compensation: Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava emphasized that when artists' samples are used to train AI models, the original creators are remunerated. "We are the first company to do this at scale," Srivastava stated, adding that this model should become the industry standard.
• Transparent Licensing: Stability AI CEO Prem Akkaraju noted that his company has been licensed since day one and continues to release open-source models. Every team member is a musician, DJ, or producer, ensuring artist-centric product development.
• Human-Centered Design: Udio CEO Andrew Sanchez framed the company's mission as building "artist superfan experiences that are empowered by AI," with the human creator sitting front and center rather than being replaced by the technology.

"Our new creative tools are AI based, centred on human sounds, with real relationships, where artists are remunerated in training," said Kakul Srivastava.

Kakul Srivastava, CEO at Splice

NVIDIA's Richard Kerris, VP and GM of Media and Entertainment, described AI as "more as an actionable assistant rather than a replacement" for musicians, emphasizing that the technology should inspire creativity rather than eliminate it.

Richard Kerris, VP and GM of Media and Entertainment

How to Ensure AI Music Tools Protect Artist Interests

• Establish Clear Licensing Agreements: Require that any AI model trained on copyrighted music operates under explicit licensing deals where creators know their work is being used and receive compensation for it.
• Build Artist Participation Into Product Development: Include musicians and producers on development teams so that the tools reflect creator needs and values, not just technical capabilities.
• Create Transparent Remuneration Models: Implement systems where artists are paid when their samples or styles are used in AI training, making the connection between human artistry and AI output visible and rewarded.
• Establish Policy Protections: Advocate for regulations that require AI companies to license training data and ensure creators have a viable career path in the AI era.

John Legend's remarks at the summit underscored the stakes. He acknowledged that AI has "penetrated into our business," with many artists using it "in healthy ways." However, he warned against losing sight of what makes music meaningful. "AI can bring shortcuts and augmentations to an artist's work, but urged musicians not to forget the core of what makes you interesting and special," Legend said.

"It's about making sure all working musicians and creatives have the opportunity to make a living. It requires systems, structures and protections," said John Legend.

John Legend, EGOT-winning artist

UMG's Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash framed the company's philosophy as artist-first. "From the point of view of UMG, our conversations around AI come from a simple philosophy: center the conversation on artists, defend their rights, advance their interests," Nash explained. He added that "when you put exciting tools in the hands of artists, they will create exciting artwork. It is not the tools that are creating the exciting artwork, it is the artist's expression of their voice and vision utilizing those tools".

What's at Stake if the Industry Gets This Wrong?

ABBA co-founder Björn Ulvaeus, who opened the summit with a keynote address, warned that the decisions being made now will shape the creative economy for decades. Ulvaeus, who serves as President of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), called for licensing of works used to train generative AI, with creators receiving a share of AI subscription revenues.

A study commissioned by CISAC in 2024 estimated that generative AI could take 24% of music creators' revenues by 2028 if current trends continue. That projection underscores why the shift toward licensed partnerships matters. Ulvaeus cited the ABBA Voyage virtual concert as an example of technology built with creators rather than at their expense: "We chose it. We participated in it. We are paid for it," he said.

"Human creativity is not the enemy of artificial intelligence. It is the reason artificial intelligence exists," declared Björn Ulvaeus.

Björn Ulvaeus, President of CISAC

In June 2026, creators at CISAC's centenary General Assembly in Paris signed a declaration calling for human creators to be protected and remunerated in the AI era. Ulvaeus concluded his remarks with a direct appeal: "We deserve a place at the table. We deserve a share of the harvest".

Ulvaeus

The UN summit panel suggests that at least some corners of the AI industry are listening. Whether these partnerships become the model for the entire sector, or remain exceptions to a broader pattern of uncompensated training data use, will determine whether AI music tools become a threat to creators or a tool that amplifies their reach and income.