Warner Music Group (WMG), Universal Music Group (UMG) and Sony Music Entertainment (SME) have signed licensing deals with AI music technology company Klay Vision Inc., making it the first AI music startup to secure licensing deals with all three major record companies.
A press release announcing the respective deals said that they would “help further evolve music experiences for fans, leveraging the potential of AI, while fully respecting the rights of artists, songwriters, and rights holders.” Klay says it “is not a prompt-based meme generation engine”, but rather a “new subscription product that will uplift great artists and celebrate their craft”.
The company added that it works with the music industry to further human creativity rather than try to replace it. The company hopes to sign up independent labels, artists, publishers and songwriters next.
In a statement, WMG’s executive vice president and chief digital officer Carletta Higginson said: “Our goal is always to support and elevate the creativity of our artists and songwriters, while fiercely protecting their rights and works. From day one, Klay has taken the right approach to the rapidly-evolving AI universe by creating a holistic platform that both expands artistic possibilities and preserves the value of music. We appreciate the Klay team’s work in advancing this technology and guiding these important agreements.”
UMG’s executive vice president, Michael Nash, shared a statement when the company’s partnership with Klay began last year, and said: “We are excited to partner with entrepreneurs like the team leading Klay, to explore new opportunities and ethical solutions for artists and the wider music ecosystem, advancing generative AI technology in ways that are both respectful of copyright and have the potential to profoundly impact human creativity.”
Klay founder and chief executive Ary Attie added: “Technology is shaped by the people behind it and the people who use it. At Klay, from the beginning, we set out to earn the trust of the artists and songwriters whose work makes all of this possible. We will continue to operate with those values, bringing together a growing community to reimagine how music can be shared, enjoyed, and valued. Our goal is simple: to help people experience more of the music they love, in ways that were never possible before – while helping create new value for artists and songwriters. Music is human at its core. Its future must be too.”
