UMG and ElevenLabs Team Up to Build Licensed AI Music Platform

New AI Platform to Enable Fan Co-Creation

Universal Music Group (UMG) and ElevenLabs have announced a multi-year licensing agreement and strategic collaboration to develop a new AI-powered music creation platform for fans, while also exploring AI audio products for artists and songwriters.

The partnership marks ElevenLabs’ first collaboration with a major music label and combines UMG’s music rights and artist ecosystem with ElevenLabs’ AI audio technology. The companies said the agreement is designed around responsible AI innovation, respect for human artistry and ensuring that artists and songwriters can participate in the value generated by AI-enabled music experiences.

The collaboration will begin with the development of a new AI-powered music creation platform built around licensed music and participating artists and songwriters.

The platform is expected to give fans new ways to interact and co-create with music, including through remixes and mashups, new interpretations of tracks and personalised vocal experiences.

The companies said the platform will create additional opportunities for fan participation while establishing AI-enabled experiences around licensed music and participating artists.

Focus on Responsible AI and Artist Participation

A central element of the agreement is the companies’ stated focus on responsible AI development. UMG and ElevenLabs said the collaboration is intended to respect human artistry while creating new ways for artists, songwriters and fans to engage with music.

The partnership will also seek to ensure that artists and songwriters participate in the value created through AI-powered music experiences, positioning compensation and creative participation as key elements of the collaboration.

Statements from UMG and ElevenLabs Leadership

Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group, said the most compelling opportunities for AI and music are those that place artists, songwriters and fans at the centre.

Grainge said the companies share a view that responsible AI can support music discovery, strengthen artist-fan engagement and create new revenue opportunities for the creative community. He also highlighted ElevenLabs’ AI audio capabilities as an addition to UMG’s growing network of technology partners.

Mati Staniszewski, cofounder and CEO of ElevenLabs, said AI can create new possibilities for how audiences interact with music and artists. He noted that combining UMG’s global community and rights management expertise with ElevenLabs’ AI models and products could enable new fan experiences while supporting fair compensation for artists and songwriters.

ElevenLabs’ Existing AI Audio Ecosystem

The new UMG platform will operate separately from ElevenLabs’ existing music products.

Among those offerings is Music API, which provides businesses and developers with access to the company’s studio-grade music models for applications across music technology, media and entertainment and social media.

ElevenLabs also offers ElevenMusic, a music creation application that allows users to generate and edit original songs, with controls covering vocals, instrumentation, style, arrangement and other elements.

More AI Audio Products Planned

Beyond the initial platform, UMG and ElevenLabs plan to develop additional products and fan experiences under the multi-year agreement.

The companies will also explore further AI audio products designed for artists, songwriters and fans in the coming years. The collaboration therefore extends beyond a single platform, establishing a broader framework for developing licensed AI music experiences.

The agreement represents a move toward new forms of fan participation in music, combining licensed content and artist involvement with AI-powered creation while maintaining a stated focus on responsible innovation and value creation for the creative community.