Photo Credit: Michael Nash / UMG
UMG partners with ethical AI music company KLAY in a strategic deal to pioneer a commercial, ethical foundational model for AI generated music.
Los Angeles-based AI music company KLAY has announced a partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG) on a pioneering commercial, ethical foundational model for AI generated music that works in collaboration with the music industry and its creators. KLAY aims to be the backbone to power a new era in products and experiences, committed to the premise that AI can bolster and grow musical creativity and human artistry.
At the core of UMG and KLAY’s shared vision is the conviction that state-of-the-art foundational AI models are best built and scaled ethically through constructive dialog and consensus with those responsible for the artistry that shapes global culture. Building generative AI music models ethically and fully respectful of copyright, as well as name and likeness rights, will dramatically lessen the threat to human creators and stand the greatest opportunity to be transformational, creating significant new avenues for creativity and future monetization of copyrights.
Led by accomplished executives from the fields of music and technology, including Ary Attie (music and tech visionary), Thomas Hesse (former President of Sony Music Entertainment), and Björn Winckler (joining soon from Google Deepmind), KLAY is committed to serving artists and songwriters and those who support them, including music publishers and labels, distributors, and other rights holders across the Major and Indie label landscape. KLAY is developing a global ecosystem to host AI-driven experiences and content, including accurate attribution and will not compete with artists’ catalogs in traditional music services.
“We are excited to partner with entrepreneurs like the team leading KLAY, to explore new opportunities and ethical solutions for artists and the wider music ecosystem, advancing generative AI technology in ways that are both respectful of copyright and have the potential to profoundly impact human creativity,” said Michael Nash, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of Universal Music. “UMG has always endeavored to lead the music industry in driving innovation, embracing new technologies, and supporting entrepreneurship while protecting human artistry.”
“Research is critical to building the foundations for AI music, but the tech is only an empty vessel when it doesn’t engage with the culture it is meant to serve,” added Ary Attie, founder and CEO of KLAY. “KLAY’s obsession is not just to showcase its research innovation but to make it invisible and mission-critical to people’s daily lives. Only then can music AI become more than a short-lived gimmick. Our great artists have always embraced the newest technologies — we believe the next Beatles will play with KLAY.”
KLAY is developing a new Large Music Model (KLAYMM) that will significantly advance state-of-the-art Music AI. The company is currently in stealth but plans to launch in the coming months with a product that will revolutionize the way people think about music, presenting a new, intuitive music experience.