ElevenLabs unveils AI music generator for commercial use

AI audio company ElevenLabs has unveiled a new AI music generation model, claiming it is cleared for commercial use.

This marks the company’s move beyond its established expertise in text-to-speech technology and conversational bots, expanding into the music generation space.

Since its inception three years ago, ElevenLabs has primarily focused on AI tools that convert text to speech, as well as developing systems for multilingual speech translation.

With the launch of its AI music model, announced through a blogpost on ElevenLabs website, the company now seeks to tap into the rapidly growing market of music creation and AI innovation.

As part of the announcement, ElevenLabs showcased samples of the AI-generated music.

One such sample features a synthetic voice rapping about its rise from humble beginnings, echoing the experiences of iconic hip-hop artists such as Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar.

While the creation of such music demonstrates the capabilities of AI, it has also raised concerns about the ethical implications of emulating real-world artists’ lived experiences.

These concerns come amid increasing scrutiny around AI’s role in music production.

Last year, startups Suno and Udio faced lawsuits from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), accusing them of using copyrighted music to train their models without permission.

The companies have since sought to reach licensing agreements with major record labels.

In response to concerns about using copyrighted material, ElevenLabs has announced partnerships with Merlin Network and Kobalt Music Group, two digital platforms that work with independent musicians.

These deals provide ElevenLabs with the rights to use certain materials for AI training, ensuring the company has the necessary permissions.

Merlin Network, which represents high-profile artists such as Adele, Nirvana, and Mitski, and Kobalt, which works with the likes of Beck, Bon Iver, and Childish Gambino, have confirmed that their clients can opt-in for AI usage.

A representative from Kobalt noted that artists stand to gain new revenue opportunities through the arrangement, offering revenue sharing, safeguards against misuse, and terms comparable to other industry deals.

With the rise of AI in music production, ElevenLabs’ model is positioned to lead the next wave of music innovation while ensuring compliance with copyright laws and fair compensation for artists.