On Tuesday (August 13), UnitedMasters confirmed the DEBUT+ tier is now available immediately in “priority markets” including the US, UK, Canada, Nigeria and Brazil. “Making it in music has never been more possible for independent artists, but it still requires the right partner. Founder and CEO Steve Stoute said.
UnitedMasters launches new $20-a-year subscription tier that allows artists to keep 100% of royalties
SAG-AFTRA Strikes Groundbreaking AI Digital Voice Replica Pact With Startup Firm Narrativ
SAG-AFTRA has struck a deal with AI startup Narrativ for audio voice replicas in digital advertising that the union asserts sets “a new standard” for ethical use of the technology and also makes it easy for performers to give consent and get paid. The New York-based Narrativ operates an online marketplace that offers tools to advertisers to create audio spots using AI tools.
Source: SAG-AFTRA Strikes Groundbreaking AI Digital Voice Replica Pact With Startup Firm Narrativ
Prediction marketplace Polymarket partners with Perplexity to show news summaries
Prediction marketplace Polymarket, which lets users bet on real-world events, is partnering with AI-powered search engine Perplexity to display news summaries of events. When users click on an event on Polymarket, they will now see a summary of news related to the event based on search results from Perplexity. There’s also a search box that you can use to ask more questions.
Source: Prediction marketplace Polymarket partners with Perplexity to show news summaries
Big Media Can’t Hide From Hard Decisions on Cable Valuations Any More
The parade of second quarter earnings reports for major showbiz conglomerates made it crystal-clear that there is no more avoiding the 800-pound gorilla on the balance sheets of Big Media. It’s been a long time coming that the valuations long applied to old-fashioned cable channels have to be slashed by double digits.
Source: Hot August Write-Downs: Big Media Can’t Hide From Hard Decisions on Cable Valuations Any More
Synchtank and AudioShake partner to offer AI stems
The collaboration will integrate AudioShake’s tech into Synchtank’s platform, enabling creators to produce stems directly within their workflow. AudioShake uses AI to break down music tracks into individual stems, which can then be used for remixes, sampling, and other purposes. This technology allows for the separation of vocals or dialogue from instruments, particularly in older recordings where the original multitrack files are not accessible.
UMG, Meta Announce ‘Expanded Global Agreement’ for AI, Monetization and More
Meta — home to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — and Universal Music Group have announced an expanded agreement that addresses compensation and AI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the announcement says the new agreement “reflects the two companies’ shared commitment to protecting human creators and artistry, including ensuring that artists and songwriters are compensated fairly.”
Source: Universal Music and Meta Announce ‘Expanded Global Agreement’ for AI, Monetization and More
AI Takes Center Stage In Media Production
The conversation in many professional media circles is already turning to how much AI will be able to do and how many traditional creative jobs will be displaced as a consequence. It’s smaller AI companies that are breaking new ground. Firms like Runway, LeyLine & Synthesia are redefining how we create, edit, and share video and animation content.
AI music startup Lemonaide introduces new collab tool promising ‘ethical’ AI models
Lemonaide, which describes itself as an “artist-first creative AI” platform, has launched a new tool called ‘Collab Club,’ that allows professional producers to train their own AI models using their own catalogs. The launch comes a little over a year after Lemonaide and beat buying and selling platform BeatStars struck a strategic alliance with the aim “to establish a precedent for ethical AI business models in the music industry.”
Source: AI music startup Lemonaide introduces new collab tool promising ‘ethical’ AI models
Hollywood icons’ estates cashing in on AI voice cloning deals
Stars from Hollywood’s golden age are being reborn through celebrity estate AI voice cloning deals, a sign of how some of the “Wild West” concerns about unauthorized AI impersonation are being addressed by new business models. ElevenLabs, an audio technology startup, has penned multiple deals with the estates of legendary actors for its IconicVoices tool that allows users to have AI-generated voices read to them via an audiobook app.
Spotify is full of AI music, and some say it’s ruining the platform
Artists have long criticized Spotify for its meager royalties system and its questionable content moderation practices. Now artists must contend with an entirely different problem: increased competition from AI-generated tracks, some of which have gained hundreds of thousands of listens.
Source: Spotify is full of AI music, and some say it’s ruining the platform