Universal Music Group has announced its latest partnership with an AI company. This company is KLAY Vision Inc.and UMG is working with it on “a pioneering foundational and ethical business model for AI-generated music that works in collaboration with the music industry and its creators,” the companies said in a statement Monday (October 28).
What exactly KLAY is developing remains a mystery, but he has offered some clues.
It claims it is building “a new large music model (KLayMM) that will significantly advance cutting-edge music AI” and “a global ecosystem for hosting AI-driven experiences and content, including precise attribution” , which “will not compete with the artist catalogs of traditional music services.
The company says it is currently operating in stealth mode, but plans to launch a product in the coming months that will “revolutionize the way people perceive music, introducing a new, intuitive music experience.”
“We are excited to partner with entrepreneurs like the team leading KLAY, to explore new opportunities and ethical solutions for artists and the broader music ecosystem, advancing generative AI technology. ‘a way that both respects copyright and has the potential to have a profound impact on human creativity. ,” said Michael Nashexecutive vice president and chief digital officer of Universal Music.
“UMG has always strived to be at the forefront of the music industry by fostering innovation, embracing new technologies and supporting entrepreneurship while protecting human artistic talent. »
“UMG has always strived to be at the forefront of the music industry by fostering innovation, embracing new technologies and supporting entrepreneurship while protecting human artistic talent. »
Michael Nash, universal music group
Ary Attiéfounder and CEO of KLAY, said research “is essential to laying the foundation for AI music, but technology is just an empty vessel when it doesn’t engage with the culture it’s supposed to serve “.
He added: “KLAY’s obsession is not only to showcase its research innovations, but also to make them invisible and essential to people’s daily lives. Only then can music AI become more than a fleeting gadget. Our great artists have always embraced the latest technology – we believe the next Beatles will perform with KLAY.
In addition to Attie, KLAY’s leadership team includes Chief Content Officer Thomas Hessewho previously served as President of Global Digital Business at Divertissement musical Sony BMGand has also been involved in earlier technology innovations in music, such as the pay-per-song model (iTunes Music Store), music video distribution (VEVO), and on-demand music streaming.
The Engineering Manager is also part of the KLAY team. Matt Aventformer technical lead of the Speech, Audio, and Music Intelligence (SAMI) initiative at Tik Tok parent company ByteDance. KLAY also says it will be integrated soon Björn Winckler as head of research. Winker joins the company Googlethe AI laboratory of deep mindwhere he led the development of Lyria and other AI models.
“We think the next Beatles will play with KLAY. »
Ary Attie, KLAY
For UMG, the collaboration with KLAY is the latest in a series of partnerships with AI developers and “AI-adjacent” companies, both for backend functions and music creation.
This includes a partnership last year with YouTube on an “AI incubator” and a partnership with ProRata.aiwhich claims to have developed technology that will enable generative AI platforms to accurately attribute and share usage-based revenue with content owners.
UMG also formed what it calls “an extensive, industry-first strategic relationship focused on artificial intelligence” with the social music creation platform. Tape Labas well as an agreement with a generative AI startup End to create “artist-driven, AI-powered functional music.”
Earlier this year, UMG partnered with an AI technology company Sound labswhich will allow UMG artists to access SoundLabs MicroDropan AI voice plugin.
The first AI-based version from this partnership was announced on Friday, October 25: a Spanish-language version of That of Brenda Lee iconic holiday hit, Rockin’ around the Christmas tree.
Also last week, Business Insider appointed Chairman and CEO of UMG Sir Lucian Grainge among “the most powerful people in AI”, the only music or entertainment executive to make the list.
Business Insider cited UMG’s partnerships with AI companies, and also noted that Grainge “is not afraid to fight against unauthorized generative AI, suing Anthropic and AI music platforms like sun et Audio around training data, as well as the public fight for the protection of AI in licensing contracts with distributors like Tik Tok et Meta.»
