Sony Music Group has issued warnings to over 700 technology firms and music streaming platforms, advising them against using its music for AI training without explicit authorization. According to a letter acquired by TechCrunch, Sony Music asserts that it has “reason to believe” the recipients “may already have made unauthorized uses” of its materials.
While acknowledging the “significant potential” of artificial intelligence, Sony Music emphasized that the “unauthorized use of SMG Content in the training, development, or commercialization of AI systems” denies the company and its artists both control over their work and rightful compensation.
Sony Music’s artist roster boasts several high-profile names, including Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Adele, and Celine Dion.
The company aims to safeguard its intellectual property, which encompasses audio and audiovisual recordings, cover art, metadata, lyrics, and more. Sony Music has not made public the identities of the 700 companies addressed in the letter.
In a statement, Sony Music expressed, “We support artists and songwriters in leading the way in integrating new technologies into their art. Technological advancements have historically altered the trajectory of creative industries, and AI will likely perpetuate this trend. Nonetheless, innovation must respect the rights of songwriters and recording artists, including their copyrights.”
The letter requests that recipients provide details on which of Sony Music’s tracks were employed for AI training, how these tracks were accessed, the number of copies made, the current existence of any copies, and the rationale behind creating them initially.
Recipients have been given a deadline to respond, with Sony Music indicating it will enforce its copyright to the “fullest extent permitted by applicable law in all jurisdictions.”
This action takes place amid growing concerns over copyright violations with the advent of generative AI, evident as streaming services like Spotify see an influx of AI-generated music. Even artists are engaging with AI, as demonstrated by recent criticism directed at Drake following his deepfake of the late rapper Tupac.
In response to these challenges, California Democratic Representative Adam Schiff introduced new legislation last month that, if enacted, would require AI companies to disclose the copyrighted songs used in AI training.
Additionally, Tennessee set a precedent in the United States by protecting artists against AI involvement when Governor Bill Lee signed the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act into law in March.
