Universal Music Group CEO on Protecting Artists From AI: “We Recognize Potential Threats Early”

Universal Music Group CEO on Protecting Artists From AI: “We Recognize Potential Threats Early”

As a long-time gamer and music enthusiast, I can’t help but be intrigued by the recent developments in the music industry, specifically the actions taken by Universal Music Group (UMG) to protect the intellectual property rights of its artists and songwriters from illegal generative artificial intelligence infringements.


As a passionate fan, I’d put it this way: I’m thrilled about Universal Music Group’s proactive approach to safeguarding the creative works of their star artists like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. Led by the dynamic CEO Lucian Grange, they don’t just sit back and wait for infringements; instead, they go on the offensive and defensive against illegal AI-generated copyright violations. It’s reassuring to know that my favorite musicians’ intellectual property rights are being fiercely protected in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

I proactively identify potential risks and respond accordingly, ensuring the protection of our artists’ interests and fostering innovative creative and business ventures, much like someone prepared with a walking stick takes consistent steps to avoid obstacles in their path.

UMG has been a pioneer in implementing AI tools and partnerships, such as with YouTube and Deezer, to enhance their artist-focused approach for royalty distributions. This has been particularly noticeable in the music industry due to the significant influence of generative AI.

Grainge firmly believed that UMG, as a record label, would not condone the alleged mass infringement of copyrighted works to train AI systems. Lately, his company was involved in lawsuits filed in federal courts in New York and Massachusetts, supported by Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music, aimed at preventing AI start-ups from illegally accessing vast collections of copyrighted recordings to power their systems.

“Grainge explained to analysts that these cases involve unauthorized copying and exploitation of copyrighted sound recordings on a large scale.”

In the second quarter of the year, UMG experienced a 8.7% increase in total revenue, amounting to €2.93 billion or US$3.18 billion. Likewise, the company’s EBITDA grew by 10%, reaching €649 million or US$704.5 million.

The income from my recorded music subscriptions increased by 5.8%, amounting to a cool €2.2 billion (approximately US$2.39 billion). A significant portion of this revenue came from my subscription and streaming services, which grew by 3.8% and made up around €1.48 billion (around US$1.61 billion) of the total.

Due to UMG’s significant reliance on international music streaming markets, Boyd Muir, the company’s CFO, expressed concerns over the inconsistent financial results of major audio streaming platforms, particularly concerning their ad-supported streaming income. He specifically mentioned Spotify and YouTube reporting recent declines in ad revenue expansion.

Michael Nash, UMG’s digital chief, urged patience from investors regarding the growth of audio streaming and subscription services, following Spotify’s recent report of slowing user growth. He reminded investors that the market’s development is not always evident on a quarterly basis but expressed confidence in the industry’s positive trend when viewed over the long term.

As a gamer, I’m always excited about new numbers and updates, especially when it comes to my favorite streaming service, Spotify. On a Tuesday update, they shared that their monthly active users had grown by 14% compared to the previous year, reaching an impressive total of 626 million. However, this number fell just short of their initial forecast of hitting 631 million. I get it, we gamers and streaming enthusiasts often think in long-term strategies, but as an investor, UMG’s performance is evaluated quarter by quarter. So while we wait for the next level in our streaming adventure, let’s keep an eye on these trends shaping the audio streaming landscape.

As a gamer, I’m always amazed by the impressive numbers behind best-selling artists like Taylor Swift. I mean, wow, just think about it – millions of albums sold! Unbelievable, right? It’s truly a phenomenon to witness such unique and extraordinary success. Speaking of which, her latest studio album, “Tortured Poets Department,” is nothing short of remarkable.

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2024-07-24 20:55