WMG is fighting back against the American Federation of Musicians, claiming artists aren't owed a cent from AI licensing because the tech didn't exist when contracts were signed.
Warner Music Group has requested a US court dismiss a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). The union is suing both WMG and Universal Music Group, alleging the labels licensed artist recordings to AI startups Suno and Udio without providing credit or compensation.
The AFM argues these deals violate the Sound Recording Labor Agreement's "new use" provisions. They claim the majors are hoarding data and refusing to disclose which specific recordings are being used to train generative models.
WMG’s defense is predictably corporate: since AI platforms didn't exist when the original artist contracts were signed, the label believes it has no obligation to share the revenue. Their legal team describes the lawsuit as an attempt to shift leverage in future negotiations.
Despite this stance, WMG recently settled infringement claims with both Suno and Udio to establish "licensed" services. While the label publicizes these deals as creating new revenue streams, the AFM's challenge suggests that very little of that cash is reaching the people who actually made the music.