One of the world's biggest record labels has issued a notice to hundreds of companies warning them not to train artificial intelligence models on their content without permission.
Sony Music Group, which owns famous labels such as Columbia Records, RCA Records, and Epic Records, has begun sending formal letters to more than 700 generative AI companies and streaming platforms, prohibiting them from mining text or data, web scraping, or using SMG content without explicit licensing agreements.
This includes a wide range of content, including audio recordings, songs (including lyrics), cover artwork and metadata, according to a copy of the letter obtained by NBC News.
In its letter, SMG said it recognises the “great potential and advancements” of AI.
“However, any unauthorized use of the SMG Content in training, developing or commercializing AI systems deprives the SMG Companies and SMG Talent of control over and appropriate compensation for the use of the SMG Content, is inconsistent with the normal exploitation of their works, unreasonably undermines our legitimate interests and infringes our intellectual property and other rights,” the company said.
Such actions “are inconsistent with the normal use of these works, unduly harm our legitimate interests, and infringe our intellectual property and other rights,” the letter said.
Asked for comment, an SMG spokesperson directed NBC News to a statement the company posted online on Thursday.
“Technological advances have frequently changed the course of creative industries, and AI will likely continue this long-standing trend,” the post reads, “but that innovation must ensure that the rights of songwriters and recording artists, including their copyrights, are respected.”
The letter asks the companies to confirm that they are not using SMG content without permission, or, if so, to provide details about how that content was used in AI training.
The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, the world's first comprehensive AI law passed in March, includes a provision requiring providers of general-purpose AI models to publish “sufficiently detailed” summaries of the content used to train the model.
Concerns over the use of AI have dogged the music industry in recent months, as the rapid adoption of generative AI tools makes it easy for anyone to scrape copyrighted content and create AI-generated music.
In the United States, where regulations protecting human creations are still lagging behind, many companies have begun negotiating their own agreements to license content used to train AI models, and some have sued AI companies for training their AI models with copyrighted material.
Several tracks that appear to use AI-generated vocals have already appeared online. Last year, a song called “Heart on My Sleeve,” written by an anonymous musician calling himself “Ghostwriter,” featured vocals reminiscent of Drake and The Weeknd, but was quickly removed from streaming services following a copyright infringement claim by Universal Music Group.
(UMG has no affiliation with NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.)
In April, Drake released “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which featured an AI-generated voice of the late rapper Tupac Shakur. The diss track was removed from Drake's X and Instagram accounts days after Shakur's estate threatened legal action.
Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Intellectual Property Subcommittee last month, arguing for legislation to prevent the use of deepfakes without consent.
“Our fundamental position on AI is simple: everyone should have the right to decide how their name, likeness and voice are used,” Kyncl said in prepared remarks. “These characteristics are the very foundation of our individuality and are not just data for others to take and use. An individual's identity should not be used in ways that they would never accept or want to participate in.”
Artists are also calling for protections from AI: Last month, more than 200 artists signed an open letter calling on AI developers, tech companies, and digital music services to pledge not to use AI in ways that “detract from or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists.”