Universal Music Group and BandLab Technologies announced an expansive strategic partnership concentrating on the ethical application of AI in music. The alliance unites the world’s largest music company with Singapore’s leading social music creation platform. BandLab boasts 60 million users engaging through AI-enhanced tools. This formidable union aims to responsibly advance AI, protecting artists while unlocking new possibilities.
Berlin-based AI sound wellness firm Endel has joined forces with Spinnin’ Records, Warner Music Group’s electronic music label, to develop a series of soundscapes for purposes like focus, relaxation, movement, and sleep. This marks Endel’s most extensive project to date, with the company collaborating with Spinnin’ Records to produce 50 soundscape album playlists. These releases will be rolled out under a new profile called Spinnin’ Cosmos, with involvement from artists like Brazilian DJs Felguk and Italian production and DJ duo Vinai.
Epic Games’ recent remarks about “low margins” in the creator economy have ignited a crucial question: What transpires when user-generated content surpasses the popularity of the core material it originates from? Fandom expression increasingly occurs through creation, possibly serving as the music industry’s next growth driver. However, the challenge lies in monetizing it effectively, especially when consumer creations become substitutes, rather than mere additions, to original songs. This transformation might begin with social platform subscriptions on the likes of TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram as they test ad-free subscriptions. This shift could be driven by factors like regulatory pressures surrounding user data, the waning tolerance of younger generations for ads, and the shift in social advertising towards influencer marketing, which doesn’t share revenue with social platforms.
In an ongoing effort to enhance its support for artists and their revenue streams, Spotify has implemented several changes in recent months, striving to fortify the symbiotic relationship between music streaming and merchandise sales. The latest development in this initiative is the introduction of a “Merch Hub,” a feature aimed at catering to users’ individual listening habits.
In Amazon Music’s recent unveiling of “Amazon Original Orchestration” tracks, a particular statistic warrants attention – these artist-recreated tracks, enhanced with fresh orchestral arrangements, have accumulated over 43 million streams, not on Amazon’s platform but on YouTube. This intriguing data underlines Amazon’s strategy of utilizing its exclusive content not only as an enticement for its subscribers but also as a promotional tool through video-sharing platforms. Leading the pack in this initiative is Bastille’s reimagined rendition of ‘Million Pieces,’ which has garnered a staggering 16 million views on YouTube. Other artists such as Nothing But Thieves, Architects, and London Grammar have also seen their orchestration-enhanced tracks amass millions of views.
With intensifying regulatory pressures across multiple jurisdictions, music streaming leader Spotify is expanding its government affairs and public policy team. Newly posted positions for a Global Music Policy Director, Latin America Lead, and UK Head signal efforts to increase external advocacy and engagement with lawmakers worldwide.
TikTok is embroiled in yet another legal battle, this time in Utah, where the state’s governor, Spencer J. Cox, and attorney general, Sean D. Reyes, have launched a lawsuit with a three-pronged attack against the social media giant. Utah alleges that TikTok engages in illegal practices, baiting children into unhealthy and addictive use of its platform, while also making misleading claims about the app’s safety and falsely presenting itself as an independent entity separate from its China-based parent company, ByteDance.
Innovate UK, a government-backed agency, has initiated a funding competition aimed at bolstering AI music projects in the UK, offering a substantial £1 million for prospective applicants. Launched on 10th October, the contest will remain open for submissions until 22nd November. Eligible projects must fall within the budget range of £100,000 to £250,000.
The Independent Music Publishers International Forum (IMPF) has responded to the growing debate surrounding AI-generated songs emulating artists’ voices by releasing a set of ethical guidelines for AI developers. Backed by 200 independent music publishing companies globally, these principles aim to establish a more transparent collaboration between indie publishers and AI tech firms.
Following Meta’s recent announcement concerning AI advertisement tools, the tech giant has released some tips for utilising the software in the best ways possible. For those venturing into the Advantage+ realm, Meta has released a comprehensive 24-page resource covering essential strategies. Marketers have found success with Meta’s evolving Advantage+ campaigns, leveraging AI and automation to optimise responses, thanks to Meta’s systematic understanding of audience interests.
