Universal Music Group (UMG) has urged streaming platforms like Apple and Spotify to prevent artificial intelligence (AI) services from scraping melodies and lyrics from their protected songs. This move comes as UMG expresses concerns about AI bots utilizing their music to create imitation songs resembling popular artists.
The company, holding a significant share of the global music market, has observed AI-generated songs being uploaded on streaming services. UMG has been actively issuing takedown requests to combat this issue, prompting the need for streaming platforms to restrict access to their music catalog for developers leveraging it to train AI technology.
A source familiar with the matter shared, This next generation of technology poses significant issues, pointing out the training of generative AI on popular music. This practice may lead to AI producing content that resembles specific artists’ intellectual property, combining different elements from various musicians to create new music pieces.
As UMG takes steps to safeguard its copyrighted material, the music industry faces evolving challenges posed by technological advancements. The intersection of AI and music creation raises concerns about intellectual property rights and the need to establish boundaries to protect artists and their original work.
With UMG’s call for streaming platforms to block AI scraping of melodies and lyrics, the industry is navigating the complexities of ensuring innovation while upholding copyright integrity. The ongoing dialogue between music stakeholders, technology developers, and streaming services is crucial in shaping the future landscape of content creation and protection in the digital age.
