Spotify and Universal Media Group (UMG) announced a new music recording and publishing licensing agreement that will allow fans to create covers and remixes using generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This feature will require an additional subscription to be used in conjunction with a Spotify Premium subscription.
Through this licensing, artists and songwriters will share in the revenue generated from AI-licensed covers and remixes on the Spotify platform. It will be an additional source of revenue in addition to existing royalties. Spotify emphasizes that this feature is built on a foundation of consent, credit, and remuneration for the artists and songwriters involved.
Spotify says this is an initiative to solve a major challenge in music and bring technological transformation that benefits artists and fans. Meanwhile, UMG describes it as an initiative for the most hardcore fans based on AI that supports human creativity and opens up new revenue opportunities for the entire music ecosystem.
On social media platforms, there are many AI-based cover songs uploaded without permission without copyright holders generating any revenue. This was seen last February when the song Cinta Tersimpul Rapi, popularized by Anis Suraya in the 90s, was covered using AI by Jane In Heaven a month ago. On social media, many criticized this reworked song for not paying royalties to the original writers Azmeer and Lukhman S. As a result, all the covered songs on this channel were deleted after being claimed by the copyright holder.
