The Sony Music Group (SMG) has reportedly sent letters to tech companies and music streaming services to warn them to desist from using its content without permission.
The letter which was sent to tech firms and streaming platforms on May 16, 2024, stated that the unauthorised use of artificial intelligence to generate new songs, lyrics and videos of artists signed to SMG, denied the label and artists of revenue and control over their works.
Sony also forbids any individual or company from using AI to reproduce and commercialise content belonging to any of its artists.
The letter also asked each of its recipients to provide details of the songs they used to train the AI systems, how the songs were accessed, the number of regenerated copies made off the songs and how long the AI-generated songs have been in existence. Allegedly, Sony has also given the firms a deadline to respond or face full legal action.
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Some parts of the letter also addressed music streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, asking them to implement measures to protect its music from misuse and copyright.
Sony Music’s letter comes after the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) issued a cease and desist letter to Spotify earlier this week, alleging that the streaming platform violated copyright laws by using unlicensed lyrics in its new video and upcoming remix feature, which will allow users to edit existing artist songs. The NMPA insists that Spotify obtain permission to use these materials in their video content.
Sony Music Group (SMG) is an American multinational company that manages Sony Group Corporation’s recording and music publishing operations outside of Japan, with Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Publishing as its divisions. The Sony Music Group has signed artists like Beyoncé, Adele, and Davido amongst others.
