Kobalt Signs Licensing Deal With Spotify for AI Fan Remixing Tool
The indie publishing giant is the latest company to sign such an agreement with the streaming platform following recent pacts with UMG and Merlin.
Kobalt, a music company, has entered into a licensing agreement with Spotify, enabling the streaming platform to incorporate AI-generated fan remixes and covers. This agreement, announced on August 13, allows Kobalt songwriters to share in revenue from the generated content. The AI remixing tool, which will be introduced as a paid add-on for premium Spotify subscribers, was announced in May during the company's Investor Day presentation.
Spotify's senior vice president and global head of music, Charlie Hellman, emphasized the importance of songwriters in the tool's development, stating that consent, credit, and compensation are crucial for building the tool ethically. Kobalt CEO Laurent Hubert highlighted the significance of fans engaging more deeply with the music they love, both through listening and creation.
In October, Spotify announced a similar partnership with five other major music companies, adopting four principles for the development of AI music tools. These principles include forging partnerships with labels, distributors, and publishers, allowing creators to opt-in, creating new revenue streams for creators and rights holders, and fostering connections between artists and fans.
Additionally, a coalition of music organizations proposed labeling AI-generated songs on streaming services, distinguishing between songs entirely created using AI and those partially assisted by AI.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
