Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs Announce Multi-Year AI Music Licensing Deal
On September 10 2026, Universal Music Group (UMG) and ElevenLabs announced a multi‑year strategic licensing agreement that could redefine how the public interacts with catalog music. The partnership will launch an authorized AI music platform that lets users remix, mash‑up, and reinterpret songs using only officially licensed UMG tracks. It also includes joint development of professional‑grade AI audio tools for UMG’s artists and songwriters.
The new platform is designed to be a curated sandbox where creators can experiment with UMG’s catalog without stepping into the gray area of open‑ended generative models. According to the announcement, users will be able to remix tracks, rearrange song structures, and craft personalized vocal experiences—all built from licensed source material. They will not be able to generate songs from scratch based on text prompts; instead, the platform will provide officially licensed vocal tracks and instrumental stems to work with.
ElevenLabs’ partnership marks its first comprehensive collaboration with a major record label, following a period in which the music industry moved from legal opposition to generative‑AI companies toward a model that incorporates the technology through controlled licensing. In 2023, UMG removed the viral track “Heart on My Sleeve,” which used unauthorized AI‑generated imitations of Drake and The Weeknd, after a demand for removal. In June 2024, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sued the AI startups Suno and Udio for training models on copyrighted recordings without permission.
To guard against the risk of unlicensed source material leaking into open‑ended models, ElevenLabs’ existing Music API and consumer app ElevenMusic will remain separate from the UMG platform. The partnership also expands UMG’s network of AI‑focused collaborations. The label has already worked with YouTube’s Dream Track, Spotify, Klay Vision, SoundLabs, Endel, and Nvidia.
Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG’s chairman and CEO, said the partnership “puts artists, songwriters and fans at the center” and can create new revenue opportunities. ElevenLabs brings advanced voice‑synthesis technology to the mix, allowing artists to produce new fan‑engagement experiences while ensuring revenue flows back to rights holders.
Key questions remain about the platform’s rollout. Artist participation is opt‑in, so the catalog that will be available depends on individual rights holders. The announcement did not disclose a launch date, pricing, or revenue‑sharing ratios, and it is unclear how session musicians and engineers will be compensated. The American Federation of Musicians has filed a federal challenge against major labels for inadequate credit and payment to studio musicians in AI‑related licensing.
At present, the platform is still in development. UMG and ElevenLabs have not set a public launch date, but the partnership signals a shift toward a licensed “sandbox” for AI‑generated music that balances creative freedom with rights protection.
