YouTube might be about to drop the hottest collab of 2024 – and no, we’re not talking about another MrBeast video. The video giant is reportedly in talks with major record labels to license music for AI training. That’s right, the same AI that’s been giving the music industry headaches might soon get the industry’s blessing.
According to the Financial Times, YouTube is chatting up Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records about paying to use their catalogs to train AI. It’s like asking permission before sampling, but for robots.
This move comes hot on the heels of AI music makers Suno and Udio getting slapped with lawsuits faster than you can say “copyright infringement.” The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and major labels aren’t playing around when it comes to protecting their turf.
But here’s the twist: even if YouTube and the labels shake hands, artists might still have the final say. It’s like getting your parents’ permission to go to a party, but your older sibling still has veto power.
This isn’t YouTube’s first rodeo with AI and music. Last year, they teamed up with Universal Music Group for the “Music AI Incubator” program. Think of it as a music industry think tank, but with more algorithms and probably fewer leather jackets.
The real question is: how will artists react? Many have been vocal about AI’s potential to devalue their work. Over 200 artists signed an open letter last year calling AI an “assault on human creativity.” Dramatic? Maybe. But when you’ve spent years perfecting your craft, watching an AI spit out a passable imitation in seconds has got to sting.
Even artists who are more AI-curious are demanding a seat at the table. They want to be part of the conversation, not just the subject of it. It’s like being invited to a party in your honor, but you’re not allowed in the VIP section.
