Warner Music Group (WMG) announced a settlement of copyright litigation with AI music platform Suno and reached two deals:   

1. Licensing Agreement: Suno will launch the "Advanced Licensing Model" next year, allowing WMG's songwriters to voluntarily join, and artists will have "one-click on/off" control over their names, images, voices, and works;  

2. Asset Sale: WMG will sell the Songkick brand and app, a live music discovery platform, to Suno, the amount is undisclosed, and Songkick will continue to operate as a fan community.

Business Model Changes  

- Download Monetization: Under the new model, audio downloads require a paid account, and free users can only play and share internal links.  

- Voiceprint Control: The system includes "voiceprint fingerprint + watermark," and if "AI covers" are prohibited, the platform will automatically block corresponding voiceprint requests.  

- Revenue Sharing: A "play count + download count" dual pool will be used, and WMG and participating artists will share additional revenue, with specific ratios undisclosed

Industry Chain Reaction  

- Two Settlements in One Week: Last week, WMG reached a similar licensing agreement with Udio, and it will launch a dual-platform "licensed AI creation service" in 2026.  

- Progress of Major Record Labels: UMG and Sony are also in talks with Suno/Udio, and it is expected that the licensing framework will be completed this year.  

- Investor Confidence: Suno recently completed a $250 million Series C round, valuing the company at $2.45 billion, with participation from NVentures, Menlo Ventures, and others