TLDR: Universal Music Group (UMG) Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has issued a comprehensive memo outlining the company’s generative AI strategy, emphasizing a firm stance against licensing AI models that utilize an artist’s voice or existing songs without explicit consent. UMG aims to foster a responsible AI ecosystem while actively engaging with technology partners and advocating for ethical AI development.
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group (UMG), has publicly declared a stringent policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence in music, stating unequivocally that UMG ‘will NOT license any model that uses an artist’s voice or generates new songs which incorporate an artist’s existing songs without their consent.’ This directive was communicated in a comprehensive memo sent to UMG staff on October 13, 2025, outlining the company’s strategy for generative AI partnerships and product development.
Grainge’s memo, obtained by Music Business Worldwide, addresses three key areas: UMG’s expanding portfolio of AI company agreements, how artists can participate in AI opportunities, and the company’s public policy advocacy for responsible AI development. He highlighted UMG’s pioneering role in fostering AI’s potential, confirming that the company is ‘very actively engaged with nearly a dozen different companies on significant new products and service plans that hold promise for a dramatic expansion of the AI music landscape.’
Central to UMG’s philosophy, as articulated by Grainge, is ‘the belief that together, we can foster a healthy commercial AI ecosystem in which artists, songwriters, music companies and technology companies can all flourish.’ However, this vision is coupled with a clear boundary: the non-negotiable requirement for artist consent when their voice or existing works are involved in AI model training or generation. UMG has already established AI-related agreements with major platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Meta, as well as emerging innovators such as BandLab, Soundlabs, ProRata, and KLAY. These partnerships are strategically chosen with companies whose products ‘both protect music and enhance its monetization,’ ensuring accurate attribution and empowering artists.
Looking ahead, Grainge expressed enthusiasm for ‘Agentic AI,’ which he believes ‘has the potential to revolutionize how fans interact with and discover music’ by dynamically employing complex reasoning and adaptation. He sees AI as a tool to ‘deliver creative tools that will enable us to connect our artists with their fans in new ways—and with advanced capability on a scale we’ve never encountered.’ Crucially, UMG will only consider advancing AI products ‘based on models that are trained responsibly.’
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This firm stance aligns with earlier statements from Grainge, who has consistently emphasized the importance of copyright, intellectual property, and the protection of an artist’s name, likeness, and voice. In previous remarks, he stated, ‘Do I believe in copyright and intellectual property and name and likeness and use of voice? One thousand percent.’ UMG has also been at the forefront of legal actions against AI companies allegedly infringing on copyrights, including lawsuits against AI startups Suno and Uncharted Labs (developer of Udio AI) for unauthorized training on copyrighted recordings. The company also strongly supported the ‘No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications Act of 2024’ (‘No AI FRAUD Act’), advocating for federal protection against nefarious deepfakes and unauthorized use of identity.
