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Universal Music Group Teams With ElevenLabs to Launch Fan-Focused AI Remix Platform
Universal Music Group (UMG) announced on Thursday a new partnership with AI‑audio company ElevenLabs to develop an AI‑powered remix platform that will allow fans to remix and mash up songs from the UMG catalog. The two companies signed a multiyear licensing agreement that will let the platform draw only from music by UMG artists who opt in, and UMG said those creators will be fairly compensated.
The platform, which has not yet been named and has no release date, will operate separately from ElevenLabs’ existing ElevenMusic generator and its Music API. The tool is intended to give users the ability to create remixes, mashups, new track interpretations and personalized vocal experiences using officially licensed material.
ElevenLabs’ CEO Mati Staniszewski said the collaboration would combine UMG’s global community and rights‑management expertise with ElevenLabs’ AI models to enable artists and songwriters to create new fan experiences while ensuring fair compensation. The partnership marks ElevenLabs’ first deal with a major record label and signals a shift toward licensing AI‑generated content rather than treating it as a legal battleground.
UMG has been expanding its AI portfolio in recent years. The label is already developing an AI music platform with Udio and has signed licensing deals with Spotify, Nvidia and Klay. In the same week, Suno released an AI model trained on licensed songs from Warner Music Group and BMG, announcing the start of formal relationships with those catalogs.
The cooperative stance follows a period of legal contention. Earlier this year, UMG and other major labels issued a collective appeal to keep AI‑generated “slop” tracks off global charts. Several labels have sued AI companies such as Suno and Udio over alleged copyright infringement. Some of those disputes have ended in settlements and licensing pacts, including a 2024 case filed by Warner against Udio.
The new UMG‑ElevenLabs platform is aimed primarily at music fans who want to create remixes, mashups and other reinterpretations of UMG songs. By limiting the catalog to opt‑in artists and ensuring that creators receive fair compensation, the platform seeks to provide a legally clear way for fans to engage with music through AI.
While the platform’s name and launch date remain undisclosed, the partnership indicates a broader industry trend toward integrating generative AI into licensed music services. The collaboration also opens the door for future AI audio products for artists and additional fan‑experience tools, as both companies said they plan to work on more projects in the months and years to come.
At present, the platform is still in development. UMG and ElevenLabs have not released a public beta or pricing model, and no official launch date has been announced. The partnership, however, represents a significant step in the music industry’s ongoing effort to harness AI technology while protecting artists’ rights and revenue streams.
The collaboration underscores UMG’s strategy of building a network of AI arrangements that include licensing agreements with major tech and music companies. As the industry continues to evolve, the UMG‑ElevenLabs platform may set a precedent for how record labels and AI firms can collaborate to offer fan‑centric, legally compliant music‑creation tools.
The platform, which has not yet been named and has no release date, will operate separately from ElevenLabs’ existing ElevenMusic generator and its Music API. The tool is intended to give users the ability to create remixes, mashups, new track interpretations and personalized vocal experiences using officially licensed material.
ElevenLabs’ CEO Mati Staniszewski said the collaboration would combine UMG’s global community and rights‑management expertise with ElevenLabs’ AI models to enable artists and songwriters to create new fan experiences while ensuring fair compensation. The partnership marks ElevenLabs’ first deal with a major record label and signals a shift toward licensing AI‑generated content rather than treating it as a legal battleground.
UMG has been expanding its AI portfolio in recent years. The label is already developing an AI music platform with Udio and has signed licensing deals with Spotify, Nvidia and Klay. In the same week, Suno released an AI model trained on licensed songs from Warner Music Group and BMG, announcing the start of formal relationships with those catalogs.
The cooperative stance follows a period of legal contention. Earlier this year, UMG and other major labels issued a collective appeal to keep AI‑generated “slop” tracks off global charts. Several labels have sued AI companies such as Suno and Udio over alleged copyright infringement. Some of those disputes have ended in settlements and licensing pacts, including a 2024 case filed by Warner against Udio.
The new UMG‑ElevenLabs platform is aimed primarily at music fans who want to create remixes, mashups and other reinterpretations of UMG songs. By limiting the catalog to opt‑in artists and ensuring that creators receive fair compensation, the platform seeks to provide a legally clear way for fans to engage with music through AI.
While the platform’s name and launch date remain undisclosed, the partnership indicates a broader industry trend toward integrating generative AI into licensed music services. The collaboration also opens the door for future AI audio products for artists and additional fan‑experience tools, as both companies said they plan to work on more projects in the months and years to come.
At present, the platform is still in development. UMG and ElevenLabs have not released a public beta or pricing model, and no official launch date has been announced. The partnership, however, represents a significant step in the music industry’s ongoing effort to harness AI technology while protecting artists’ rights and revenue streams.
The collaboration underscores UMG’s strategy of building a network of AI arrangements that include licensing agreements with major tech and music companies. As the industry continues to evolve, the UMG‑ElevenLabs platform may set a precedent for how record labels and AI firms can collaborate to offer fan‑centric, legally compliant music‑creation tools.