Sony Develops Technology to Trace AI Music Origins, Paving Way for Royalty Frameworks
Sony Group has developed a technology capable of identifying the original music used in the creation of AI-generated tracks, a development that could fundamentally alter how royalties are distributed in the age of artificial intelligence. The technology, reported by Nikkei Asia on , aims to address growing concerns about copyright infringement and fair compensation for artists whose work is used to train AI models.
The core function of the system is attribution – determining which pieces of existing music influenced the AI’s output. As AI music generation becomes increasingly sophisticated, mimicking styles and even specific artists, the question of intellectual property has become paramount. Currently, many AI music tools are trained on datasets of copyrighted material without providing any credit or compensation to the original rights holders. Sony’s technology seeks to change that.
The system operates in two modes. When AI developers cooperate, Sony can directly analyze the training data used by the AI model. This allows for a precise mapping of source material to generated output. However, recognizing that not all developers will be forthcoming with their training data, Sony has also developed a method to compare finished AI-generated tracks against existing music catalogs. This comparison estimates the contribution of various original works to the final product, quantifying the influence of each source. Nikkei Asia cited an example of the system potentially identifying that “30% of the music used by the Beatles and 10% by Queen” contributed to a single AI-generated track, though the publication notes that real-world scenarios would likely involve a much larger number of inputs with smaller percentage contributions.
This development arrives at a critical juncture for the music industry. The rise of AI music generation has sparked both excitement and anxiety. While offering new creative possibilities, it also presents significant challenges to established copyright laws and revenue models. Several major labels have already begun to address these challenges through legal action and licensing agreements.
Sony Music Entertainment, along with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, recently filed lawsuits against AI music generators Suno and Udio, alleging “mass infringement” of copyrighted material. While Universal and Warner have since reached settlements with Udio and established licensing partnerships, Sony had remained comparatively quiet – until now. Warner Music also settled with Suno in November, signaling a growing industry trend towards addressing AI copyright concerns.
According to Sony, the technology is envisioned as the foundation for a new revenue-sharing framework. This framework would compensate original creators based on their quantifiable contribution to AI-generated music. This suggests a move towards a system where AI developers would be required to pay royalties to rights holders whose work is used in training their models or is demonstrably present in the AI’s output.
The technology was developed by Sony AI, the research and development division of Sony Group. A related research paper has been accepted for presentation at an international conference, further validating the technical approach. Sony AI is also applying similar attribution technologies to other creative fields, such as preventing AI systems from replicating the distinctive art styles of studios like Studio Ghibli.
The legal landscape surrounding AI-generated content is still evolving. Under Japanese copyright law, music rights are divided into two categories: copyright held by songwriters, composers, and publishers, and neighboring rights held by performers and record producers. Sony’s technology appears designed to address both aspects of copyright, ensuring that all relevant rights holders are appropriately compensated.
The emergence of AI attribution technology isn’t limited to Sony. Musical AI, a startup focused on AI attribution, recently secured $4.5 million in funding on , demonstrating growing investment in this space. Musical AI even partnered with Beatoven.ai in December 2024 to integrate its attribution technology into a platform providing royalty-free AI music for content creators. This indicates a broader industry recognition of the need for tools that can track and manage the origins of AI-generated music.
The development of this technology by a major player like Sony Group signals a significant step towards establishing a more equitable and transparent ecosystem for AI-generated music. While challenges remain in implementing a widespread revenue-sharing system, Sony’s initiative provides a potential blueprint for navigating the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding AI and copyright. The coming weeks could prove pivotal, as record labels reportedly prepare to finalize “landmark” AI music licensing deals, according to reports from Music Business Worldwide.
