BMG and AI music platform Suno have entered a global partnership that covers both the music company’s recorded music and publishing catalogues, setting the stage for new AI-driven products while settling past uses of BMG’s works by Suno.
The agreement, part of Suno’s planned launch of its first music model developed with industry partners, allows participating BMG artists and songwriters to retain control of their rights and receive compensation for the use of their music. The companies said they will also explore new ways for artists and fans to interact with music.
“We believe the future of music will be more participatory, creating entirely new ways for artists and fans to connect,” Suno co-founder and CEO Mikey Shulman said. “Building that future responsibly means working directly with the people who make the music and the companies that represent them.” He added that the partnership would enable experiences that provide artists and songwriters with greater choice and new revenue opportunities.
BMG executive vice-president of Global Marketing and Streaming Celine Joshua said: “The future of AI in music will be defined by whether artists and songwriters remain at the centre of the opportunity and share in the value it creates. Choice is the guiding principle.”
The deal arrives amid ongoing debate over the use of copyrighted music to train generative AI systems. Rights holders and technology companies have increasingly pursued licensing frameworks to govern such uses. Suno published updated responsible AI principles on 6 August, including safeguards to make AI-generated music easier to identify and to curb the mass production of inauthentic or low-quality content. The companies said those principles will inform the products and experiences developed under their agreement.
The BMG-Suno partnership spans both recorded music and publishing rights, making it broader than many existing AI music deals that focus on individual recordings or AI-generated works. It also establishes a framework for participating BMG artists and songwriters to benefit financially from the use of their work.
BMG, founded in 2008 and wholly owned by Bertelsmann, represents more than three million songs and recordings across 16 offices in 13 markets. Suno develops AI-based music creation tools and positions its platform for use by artists, songwriters, producers and other creators.
