Spotify Partners with Major Music Labels to Build ‘Artist-First’ AI Tools

Spotify is joining forces with five of the world’s biggest music companies — Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Merlin, and Believe — to develop a new generation of artist-first AI products aimed at empowering musicians and protecting their rights.

The collaboration comes amid growing concern in the music industry about generative AI’s impact on creativity, copyright, and compensation. Spotify said the partnership will focus on developing “responsible AI products that empower artists and songwriters” while deepening fan engagement through tools like AI DJ and personalized playlists.

“All products forged through this collaboration will put artists and songwriters first,” Spotify said in a statement, outlining four guiding principles: partnership with rightsholders, artist choice in participation, fair compensation, and strengthening artist-fan connections.

“Technology should always serve artists, not the other way around,” said Alex Norström, Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer. “Our focus is on protecting artists’ rights while creating new ways for fans to discover the music they love.”

"This is an acknowledgement that direct licensing in advance of launching new products is the only appropriate way to build them and demonstrates how a properly functioning market benefits everyone in the ecosystem and fuels innovation. We appreciate and applaud Spotify’s leadership at this critical period,” Rob Stringer, Chairman, Sony Music Group, said.

“We’ve been consistently focused on making sure AI works for artists and songwriters, not against them. That means collaborating with partners who understand the necessity for new AI licensing deals that protect and compensate rightsholders and the creative community," Robert Kyncl, CEO, Warner Music Group.”