Spotify and Universal Music Group Strike a Deal for AI-Powered Remix and Cover Song Tool

If you’re someone who believes AI should stay out of the arts, and especially your earbuds, you might want to sit down for this news. On Thursday, Spotify announced a partnership with Universal Music Group that will allow you to use AI tools to create cover songs and remixes on the streaming platform.

So imagine At Last by Etta James mixed with the 2010 hit Baby by Justin Bieber, or even mashed up as a country or folk version. 

The AI-powered tool will not be included in Spotify memberships by default. Instead, it will be a paid add-on option for Spotify Premium members, the music streaming service said. No launch date has been announced yet. 

It’s unclear whether music artists will have any control over their music being used in fan edits, but we can make an educated guess that artists who own their music outright, like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, will have the most say. 

Lucian Grainge, CEO of UMG, said in a statement that the initiative is “designed to support human artistry, deepen fan relationships, and create additional revenue opportunities for artists and songwriters.”

Alex Norström, so-CEO of Spotify, said: “What we’re building is grounded in consent, credit, and compensation for the artists and songwriters that take part.” 

Recently, numerous music artists have spoken out against the intersection of AI and music creation, including Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Billie Eilish, Jon Bon Jovi and more.

In addition to this partnership, the streaming service also announced Reserved, a new ticket initiative that reserves two tickets for top Spotify Premium subscribers, allowing them to buy tickets for select artists a day before they go on sale to the general public.