Symphonic Distribution has forged a partnership with AI attribution and license management company, Musical AI, that will allow its users to become part of a licensed dataset used in AI training. Joining the dataset is a choice that Symphonic users must opt-in to and participating artists can earn additional income for their contribution.
Musical AI’s goal is to clean up what it calls the “Wild West of AI” by providing a way to track every time an AI model uses a given song in the dataset in hopes that this will help compensate the proper copyright owner for each time their work is employed by the AI model.
Licenses made between AI companies, Musical AI and Symphonic will vary, but ultimately that license will stipulate a certain percentage of revenue made will belong to rights holders represented in the dataset. Musical AI will create an attribution report that details how each song in the dataset was used by the AI company, and then AI companies will either pay out rights holders directly or through Musical AI, depending on what their deal looks like.
“Symphonic’s catalog has clear value to AI companies who need both excellent music by passionate artists and a broad representation of genres and sounds,” says Adell. “We’re thrilled to make them our first major rights holder partner.” “We strive to make our services the most advanced in the business to support our artists. But any new technology needs to work for our artists and clients — not against them,” adds, founder and CEO of Symphonic. “By partnering with Musical AI, we’re unlocking a truly sustainable approach to generative AI that honors our community.”