The rise of AI music has been a source of fascination and consternation for the music industry.
In June, the band Velvet Sundown racked up millions of streams on Spotify before revealing that they used AI to assist in creating their dusty, roots-rock sound.
Last month, an AI-generated “artist” known as Breaking Rust topped the US country digital song sales chart – a niche countdown, but one that shows audiences aren’t averse to consuming computer-generated music.
Suno was sued for copyright infringement by all three of the world’s major record labels last year, but the cases have now been settled.
Warner Music subsequently signed a partnership with the company, which will allow users to create AI-generated songs using the voices, names and likenesses of the Warner acts who opt in to the service.
It is unclear how many artists will agree to these uses.
Last week, musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn and Kate Bush released a vinyl album full of silent songs, or recordings of empty studios, in protest at planned changes to copyright law, which they say would make it easier for AI companies to train models using copyrighted work without a licence.
The record had previously been uploaded to streaming services in February.