Universal Music Group is building an AI music platform under a licensing deal lasting several years with ElevenLabs, the AI voice and music generation company, the label announced Thursday. The platform will let users pull from UMG’s licensed catalog to make fresh versions of existing tracks, mashups and remixes. Participation is opt-in: artists choose whether their music enters the system.
The deal lands two days after Suno released its first music model built on licensed catalogs from Warner Music Group and BMG, part of a broader industry pivot from lawsuits toward licensing. UMG is also developing a separate AI platform with Udio and already has AI agreements with Spotify, Nvidia, and Klay.
ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski said the partnership will let artists and songwriters build “powerful new experiences for their fans” while ensuring fair compensation. The new platform stays separate from ElevenLabs’ existing Music API and ElevenMusic generator.
Reported by Emma Roth for The Verge, September 10, 2026.
