Los Angeles-based AI music company Klay Vision announced on Monday a partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG) to develop a commercial ethical foundational model for AI-generated music that works in collaboration with the music industry and its creators. Klay aims to be the backbone for a new era of innovation, the company said.
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Vision for Ethical AI-Generated Music
UMG and Klay share a vision that foundational AI models are best built and scaled responsibly through constructive dialogue and consensus with those responsible for the artistry that shapes global culture.
"Building generative AI music models ethically and fully respectful of copyright, as well as name and likeness rights, will dramatically lessen the threat to human creators and stand the greatest opportunity to be transformational, creating significant new avenues for creativity and future monetisation of copyrights," the companies said in a joint statement.
Industry Executives Behind Vision
Led by music and technology industry executives Ary Attie (music producer and tech visionary), Thomas Hesse (former President of Global Digital Business and US Sales and Distribution, Sony Music Entertainment), and Bjorn Winckler (joining soon from Google Deepmind), Klay says it is committed to supporting artists, songwriters, and their supporters—including music publishers, labels, distributors, and other rights holders across both major and indie landscapes—by creating a global ecosystem for AI-driven content without competing with traditional music catalogues.
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Michael Nash, Executive Vice President, and Chief Digital Officer of Universal Music said, "We are excited to partner with entrepreneurs like the team leading Klay, to explore new opportunities and ethical solutions for artists and the wider music ecosystem, advancing generative AI technology in ways that are both respectful of copyright and have the potential to profoundly impact human creativity."
Ary Attie, founder and CEO of Klay added, "Research is critical to building the foundations for AI music, but the tech is only an empty vessel when it doesn't engage with the culture it is meant to serve. Klay's obsession is not just to showcase its research innovation but to make it invisible and mission-critical to people’s daily lives. Only then can music AI become more than a short-lived gimmick."
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Klay's New Large Music Model
Klay is reportedly developing a new Large Music Model (KlayMM) to advance music AI. According to the official release, the company is currently in stealth mode but plans to launch a product in the coming months.
