AI Music: User Frustration After Agreement Between Universal Music and Udio

The young platform Udio generates music from user prompts using artificial intelligence. This prompted the music group Universal Music to raise concerns about copyright infringement. Finally, Universal and the startup Udio were able to reach an agreement last week.

The agreement stipulates that a new version of the Udio service will be launched, which will license music from Universal Music for AI training. There was talk of a paid subscription offer. Universal Music has popular musicians like Billie Eilish, Elton John, or Taylor Swift in its catalog.

Udio Users Frustrated

The news service Bloomberg reports now on frustrated users. The negotiated deal stipulates that the created AI music pieces must remain within the Udio app. The songs cannot be downloaded, uploaded to streaming services, or used in one's own content, including personal content. The dissatisfaction of those affected is breaking out on social media platforms like Reddit. Someone writes there, for example: “What they did with removing the download button is unbelievable,” “People are hurt, frustrated, and disappointed because this is not a small change. It's a complete shift in how we use the platform -- which many of us helped build from the ground up.”

According to Bloomberg, Udio CEO Andrew Sanchez held a virtual meeting with subscribers, from which participants report that it led to no changes. The company has offered users free credits with which they can create more songs. However, in a Discord chat, many showed disinterest in continuing to use the platform in the future.

Udio issued a statement in an email: “We hate to have to remove the feature and did not make the decision lightly.” The company further wrote: “It is difficult, but a necessary step to support the next phase of the platform and the new experiences ahead.” Universal Music declined to comment to Bloomberg.

The agreement apparently provides for Universal and Udio to launch a new paid music service that will be trained with authorized and licensed music. According to the description, it is intended to be a “protected environment for customizing, streaming, and responsibly sharing music on the Udio platform.” The “Download” button will apparently not return.

(dmk)