Warner Music signs deal with AI music startup Suno, settles lawsuit (techcrunch.com)

Warner Music Group (WMG) has settled its copyright suit with AI music startup Suno and sold Songkick — the concert-discovery app and brand it owned — to Suno. Under the deal Suno will roll out “more advanced and licensed” models next year to replace its current offerings; audio downloads will require a paid account while free users can only play and share tracks. WMG also secured artist controls: its signed creators (including Lady Gaga, Coldplay, The Weeknd and others) will have final say over whether and how their names, likenesses, voices and compositions are used in AI-generated music. The pact represents a major industry pivot from litigation to licensing and product integration, setting a precedent for how record labels and AI music makers can coexist. Technically and commercially, it means Suno’s next-generation models will operate under cleared rights and monetization rules, limiting unfettered generation and enabling revenue for creators. The deal follows WMG’s similar settlement with Udio and arrives alongside Suno’s $250M Series C at a $2.45B valuation, signaling investor confidence. More broadly, the agreement illustrates how labels are shaping model access, user feature gating (paid downloads vs. free streaming), and consent mechanisms—practical templates other majors and startups are now negotiating.