Country musician Tift Merritt criticized AI-generated music, calling it “stealing” after Udio’s imitation of her song fell short. Merritt, along with artists like Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj, warns that AI could “sabotage creativity.” Major labels Sony, Universal, and Warner have sued AI companies Udio and Suno, accusing them of copyright violations.
Uncharted Ground
Suno and Udio defend their technology, likening the backlash to past fears over synthesizers and drum machines. However, the labels claim these companies misuse copyrighted recordings to train their systems, producing imitations of artists like Mariah Carey and Bruce Springsteen.
Fair Use Defense
The AI companies argue their outputs are protected by fair use, a legal grey area in copyright law. Music copyright expert Julie Albert notes the complexity of these cases, which hinge on whether AI-generated music transforms original works or simply imitates them.
The Stakes
With the potential to reshape the music industry, these lawsuits could set significant precedents. As AI evolves, the debate over creativity, ownership, and fair use intensifies, raising questions about the future of music creation and the role of human artists.
