Warner Music Group reached a settlement with AI music startup Suno on November 25, ending a contentious copyright lawsuit through a licensing partnership that will reshape how the platform creates AI-generated music. The deal also includes Suno’s acquisition of concert platform Songkick from Warner.
From Courtroom to Partnership#
The settlement resolves Warner’s portion of a $500 million copyright infringement lawsuit filed in June 2024 by Warner, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment against Suno and competitor Udio. The labels accused both AI companies of training their music-generation models on copyrighted recordings without permission or compensation.
Under the agreement, Suno will launch new licensed AI models in 2026 to replace its current offerings, which will be phased out entirely. The partnership gives Warner’s artists and songwriters full control over whether their names, images, voices, and compositions can be used in AI-generated music through an opt-in system.
“This landmark pact with Suno is a victory for the creative community that benefits everyone,” said Warner CEO Robert Kyncl. “With Suno rapidly scaling, both in users and monetization, we’ve seized this opportunity to shape models that expand revenue and deliver new fan experiences.”
Industry Dominos Falling#
The deal follows Warner’s November 19 settlement with Udio and Universal’s October agreement with the same company. Sony remains the only major label still pursuing litigation against both AI startups.
This settlement arrives days after Suno announced a $250 million Series C funding round led by Menlo Ventures, valuing the company at $2.45 billion. The round included participation from Nvidia’s venture arm NVentures.
Platform Changes Ahead#
Starting in 2026, Suno will require paid accounts for downloading audio, while free-tier users will only be able to play and share their creations on the platform. Paid subscribers will face monthly download caps with options to purchase additional downloads.
As part of the broader agreement, Suno acquired Songkick, Warner’s live music discovery platform, for an undisclosed amount. Warner had purchased Songkick’s app and brand in 2017.
The settlement marks a pivotal shift from litigation to collaboration in the AI music space—proving that sometimes the path forward isn’t through the courts, but through the negotiating table.