Business
Merlin and Udio set an opt-in route for licensed training
Participating independent labels and distributors can authorise repertoire for Udio's models under a framework that promises compensation, control and protections.
AI-assisted
AI assisted with research organisation and drafting; the editor checked the published wording and claims against the linked sources.
Independent-music rights agency Merlin and Udio have announced a framework for licensed AI training using repertoire from participating Merlin members. The arrangement is opt-in: it does not automatically place every Merlin member or recording in Udio's training set.
Merlin says the framework is intended to give participating labels and distributors compensation, control over use and protections for their artists. Udio describes the deal as part of a licensed product direction following its earlier agreements with major music companies.
The announcement does not disclose financial terms, participating members, the works covered, model versions or how an individual artist can inspect or withdraw an authorisation. Those details will determine how different this is from a general partnership statement.
For independent rights holders, the important precedent is structural: a collective licensing body is offering an organised route into model training rather than leaving every label to negotiate alone. Whether that route is useful will depend on consent, reporting and payment terms that are not yet public.