AI-Driven Records: UMG’s Plan to Reshape Music Creation and Licensing

Universal Music Group’s (UMG) latest venture into AI, in partnership with SoundLabs, represents a major shift in how music may be created and monetized. The newly developed MicDrop plugin allows UMG artists to create high-quality, AI-generated vocal models based on their own voices. While this innovation is being touted as a way to enhance creativity, it also signals a larger trend in normalizing the use of AI in music production. According to UMG, the tool empowers artists to explore a wide range of vocal transformations—from singing in languages they don’t speak to restoring imperfect recordings—while ensuring that artists retain control of their voice data​

However, this shift isn’t without its critics. Multi-platinum producer Damion "Damizza" Young expressed concerns via Instagram, noting that UMG’s extensive catalogue, which spans nearly a century of hit records, is being leveraged for AI purposes. “Universal has almost 100 years of hit song data, so they want to normalize using AI to make records,” Young explained. His post highlighted the potential future where users may license and release AI-generated records, raising pressing questions about artist royalties: “Now you'll pay to license those records, release those records, then what happens with the royalties?”​

Damizza's perspective brings attention to the potential conflicts that could arise in this new AI-driven landscape—particularly when it comes to compensating artists for AI-generated work based on their likeness. While UMG positions this technology as a tool that serves artistry, it’s clear that how these AI-generated works will be monetized and how royalties will be distributed are unresolved questions.