The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has signed artificial intelligence licensing agreements with Udio and Klay, while a new venue discovery platform was unveiled in partnership with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). The developments arrived amid a wave of legal and business activity across the music industry.
AI Licensing and Legal Challenges
In a separate AI-related legal move, Google argued that any music uploaded to YouTube may be used for AI training, as it seeks to dismiss a lawsuit brought by artists over its Lyria 3 AI model.
The American Federation of Musicians filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG), alleging that licensed recordings were provided to Suno and Udio without payment or credit to the musicians who performed on the tracks.
Members of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) signed a declaration aimed at protecting human creativity in the era of artificial intelligence.
Business Moves and Industry Actions
A platform designed to simplify venue discovery for artists and promoters launched in partnership with NIVA, the trade group representing independent music venues across the United States.
Spotify is exploring the licensing of rights to broadcast live video from music festivals, signaling a potential expansion into live event streaming.
UMG confirmed a €1 billion bond sale, strengthening its financial position. Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) introduced a new brand identity, updating its visual and market presence.
Global Music Rights sued the programming service Music Choice, alleging unauthorized use of its represented works.
Artist and Estate Deals
The estate of Donna Summer entered into a comprehensive agreement with Primary Wave, covering her music catalog as well as name, image, and likeness rights.
Teyana Taylor was named icon of the year for the 2026 BET Awards.
Chris Brown resolved a legal challenge related to the tracks “Sensational” and “Monalisa.”
