Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs Partner on Authorized AI Music Platform
Universal Music Group (UMG) has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with AI audio company ElevenLabs to build an authorized music creation platform. The deal, which marks ElevenLabs' first partnership with a major record label, will allow fans to legally create remixes, mashups, and personalized voice experiences using participating artists' work. This collaboration signals a pivotal shift in the music industry from fighting AI vocal synthesis to establishing commercial licensing and ethical monetization models. By ensuring revenue sharing for rightsholders, it paves the way for legal fan co-creation in the generative AI era. The platform currently in development will focus on artist-consented interactions, including AI-assisted remixes and custom vocal experiences. UMG Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge stated that the initiative aims to open new revenue streams for creators while keeping artists and songwriters at the center of AI innovation.
## BACKGROUND
ElevenLabs is a speech synthesis and AI audio company known for high-fidelity voice cloning tools that replicate unique vocal timbres and speaking styles. Major record labels like UMG previously focused heavily on taking down unauthorized AI voice clones, but are now increasingly seeking strategic partnerships to commercialize generative audio tech safely.