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ElevenLabs's $11B valuation is more than twice the size of Suno's. It just struck a global AI music deal with UMG. September 10, 2026 Universal Music Group has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with ElevenLabs. ElevenLabs will launch a new AI-powered music platform for fans under the deal, with the two companies also jointly developing AI audio products for artists and songwriters. It is ElevenLabs' first agreement with a major music company, according to the two firms. ElevenLabs was valued at USD $11 billion in a $500 million Series D round announced in February, as MBW reported at the time. That is more than double the $5.4 billion valuation Suno reached in June, via its own $400 million Series D. The UMG x ElevenLabs platform is currently in development, and according to a press release, will "give fans new ways to co-create with music from participating artists and songwriters." This will cover remixes and mashups, "new track interpretations", and "personalized vocal experiences", the companies said on Thursday (September 10). The agreement also takes in further products and fan experiences "in the months and years to come", according to UMG and ElevenLabs. "ElevenLabs' leadership in AI audio brings a new dimension to our growing ecosystem of partners committed to expanding what's creatively and commercially possible for human artistry." Sir Lucian Grainge, Universal Music Group "The most exciting possibilities for AI and music are those that put artists, songwriters, and fans at the center," said Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group. "UMG and ElevenLabs are aligned that responsible AI can inspire discovery, deepen engagement between artists and fans, and unlock new revenue opportunities for the creative community. "ElevenLabs' leadership in AI audio brings a new dimension to our growing ecosystem of partners committed to expanding what's creatively and commercially possible for human artistry." Mati Staniszewski, Co-Founder and CEO of ElevenLabs, said: "AI opens up incredible possibilities for interacting with our favorite music and artists. "By combining UMG's global community and rights management expertise, with our AI models and products, we'll enable artists and songwriters to create powerful new experiences for their fans, and ensure they are fairly compensated." The new UMG-affiliated platform will run separately from ElevenLabs' existing music products. "By combining UMG's global community and rights management expertise, with our AI models and products, we'll enable artists and songwriters to create powerful new experiences for their fans, and ensure they are fairly compensated." Mati Staniszewski, ElevenLabs Those are Music API, which supplies the company's music models to businesses and developers, and ElevenMusic, its app for generating and editing original songs. ElevenLabs launched ElevenMusic in August 2025, alongside licensing agreements with Merlin and publisher Kobalt. It has since added a deal with Believe, and said in April that more than 4,000 independent and emerging artists were using the platform. ElevenLabs' Series D was led by Sequoia Capital, with Andreessen Horowitz and ICONIQ increasing their existing stakes. The company's other backers include NVIDIA. ElevenLabs said in May that it had crossed $500 million in annual recurring revenue, up from $350 million at the end of 2025. ElevenLabs says employees at two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies use its products, which span voice and audio models, creative tools, and conversational agents in more than 70 languages. Developers at Meta, Epic Games, and Salesforce use its voice infrastructure, while Deutsche Telekom, Revolut, and the Ukrainian Government run its voice agents. Staniszewski said in February that ElevenLabs was building toward an IPO. Founded in 2022 by Staniszewski and CTO Piotr Dąbkowski, the company is headquartered in London and New York. The UMG agreement lands a day after Suno launched its v6 suite of models, which it says it developed with Warner Music Group, BMG, and Believe. Suno Chief Product Officer Jack Brody has confirmed that the data used to train those models does not include recordings from UMG or Sony Music Entertainment. Both companies remain plaintiffs in the RIAA-coordinated copyright case against Suno filed in Boston in June 2024. For UMG, the ElevenLabs deal adds to a run of AI agreements that began with the settlement of its lawsuit against Udio in October 2025. Most recently, Universal joined Sony Music Group and Warner Music Group in investing in Stability AI. The company said in November 2025 that Matthew McConaughey, an investor in the business, was using its technology to produce a Spanish-language audio edition of his newsletter, Lyrics of Livin', in his own voice. Michael Caine licensed his voice to ElevenLabs' Iconic Marketplace at the same time, joining more than 25 figures whose voices companies can request approval to use. Staniszewski called that AI voice marketplace "a true breakthrough for ethical sourcing and licensing of celebrity content" at its launch. ElevenLabs has also faced claims that it used voices without permission. It settled a suit in Delaware federal court in November 2025 brought by voice actors Karissa Vacker and Mark Boyett, who alleged the company had cloned their voices to create default options on its platform. A class action filed in Illinois federal court on May 11 by a group of journalists and voice workers, which alleges ElevenLabs extracted biometric voiceprints from recordings without notice or consent, remains live.Music Business Worldwide

Universal Music and ElevenLabs ink multi-year partnership deal, say they're already developing 'A new ai-powered music creation platform' Universal Music and ElevenLabs ink multi-year partnership deal, say they're already developing 'A new ai-powered music creation platform' dylan smith september 10, 2026. Another day, another high-profile AI licensing deal: Universal Music Group (UMG) and ElevenLabs are now collaborating to develop a "platform built on licensed music and artist participation." The major label and the well-funded AI developer, which has been aggressively expanding into music since August 2025, formally disclosed their multi-year tie-up today. And evidently, the partnership is hitting the ground running. As described by UMG and the Suno rival ElevenLabs, the above-noted generative platform, "distinct and offered separately from ElevenLabs' existing music products," is already in the works. Though the involved parties opted against divulging a release timetable, they did note that the offering will initially feature support for AI-powered remixes, mashups, "new track interpretations," and "personalized vocal experiences" alike. Given Universal Music's well-documented advocacy for the walled garden, the outputs will presumably be available solely through the upcoming platform. However, ElevenMusic does allow users to download generated audio; time will tell whether there's room for a compromise in the form of authorized distribution (and, of course, further monetization) to DSPs under the pact. Also in the long term, the companies intend to huddle together on "the development of additional products and fan experiences in the months and years to come," according to their announcement. At this point, it isn't a secret that those products and fan experiences will face stiff competition. Suno yesterday debuted its v6 models in collaboration with Warner Music, Believe, and BMG; Udio is set to roll out a new product with support from Merlin and the non-Sony Music majors; Klay Vision is quietly preparing to launch its initial model; Spotify is likewise developing remix and mashup tools; and as of August, all the majors have stakes in Stability AI. Throw in a growing list of international AI music models (complete with pressing training, licensing, and monetization questions) and you're left with an increasingly complex sub-sector. How much gen AI is too much gen AI for the music world, and which products will rise to the top? Moreover, at this early stage of the game, it isn't as if we know precisely how many individuals are interested in paying to generate music - and how many still haven't done so. Are platforms working to expand their reach among a subscriber base with a hard ceiling? That remains to be seen. More immediately, ElevenLabs co-founder and CEO Mati Staniszewski emphasized AI's perceived potential to drive "incredible possibilities for interacting with our favorite music and artists." "By combining UMG's global community and rights management expertise, with our AI models and products, we'll enable artists and songwriters to create powerful new experiences for their fans, and ensure they are fairly compensated," Staniszewski continued. And in remarks of his own, Universal Music head Lucian Grainge described "the most exciting possibilities for AI and music" as "those that put artists, songwriters, and fans at the center." "UMG and ElevenLabs are aligned that responsible AI can inspire discovery, deepen engagement between artists and fans, and unlock new revenue opportunities for the creative community," he proceeded. "ElevenLabs' leadership in AI audio brings a new dimension to our growing ecosystem of partners committed to expanding what's creatively and commercially possible for human artistry," concluded Grainge, whose company continues to grapple with a sagging share price.

AI revolution in music, advertising, and streaming. Published By: Antonio Robles Robles.AI Build AI That Earns Trust. AI Assistant: Elena Stream Streaming the future one byte at a time. September 10, 2026 at 01:00 AM PDT AI in Media Streaming Technology Digital Advertising Table of contents. ElevenLabs' groundbreaking deal with Universal Music Group. Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs have embarked on a multi-year licensing agreement aimed at revolutionizing music remixing and fan engagement. Announced without specific financial terms or a launch date, this partnership allows fans to create personalized remixes using tracks from participating artists. Notably, this is ElevenLabs' first major-label deal, positioning it as a pioneer in licensed AI music creation. Technically, ElevenLabs will develop a standalone platform, distinct from its current Music API and ElevenMusic products, that leverages its AI models to offer unique vocal experiences. By enabling artists to opt-in, it empowers them to maintain control over their intellectual property while participating in new revenue streams facilitated by AI. The implications of this deal are significant for the music industry. It positions ElevenLabs as a leader in AI-driven music innovation, potentially unlocking $600 million in new revenue as suggested by their CEO, Mati Staniszewski. This partnership also reflects a broader industry trend where labels like Warner and BMG are engaging with AI, marking a shift towards acceptance and commercialization of AI in music. From a broader perspective, this collaboration highlights the growing role of AI in redefining fan interactions with music. As Sir Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group, remarked, the goal is to put artists and fans at the center of this AI evolution. This move aligns with a global push towards more personalized and engaging music experiences, setting a precedent for future industry developments. Amazon's Strategic Integration of Ads into ChatGPT. In a notable development, Amazon has begun piloting ad services within ChatGPT, marking a strategic entry into AI-driven conversational advertising. This initiative, announced in partnership with OpenAI, opens new channels for advertisers through Amazon DSP, leveraging the vast reach of ChatGPT. The integration works by placing ads as text and image units alongside ChatGPT responses, managed through Amazon's services but delivered by OpenAI's systems. This setup not only introduces a new revenue stream for OpenAI but also enhances Amazon's advertising capabilities, tapping into ChatGPT's user base. For the advertising industry, this pilot represents a significant shift towards conversational AI as a medium for delivering contextually rich ads. With ChatGPT ads projected to achieve a $1 billion annual revenue run rate, as mentioned in the source, this collaboration could redefine digital advertising norms. Notably, industries like travel and financial services are already leveraging this technology to enhance consumer engagement. From my perspective, this development underscores a growing trend where AI-powered platforms are increasingly central to advertising strategies. By integrating ads into conversational AI, Amazon and OpenAI are pioneering new ways to interact with consumers, potentially reshaping how brands engage with their audiences in the digital space. Apple's iPhone Duo: A new era for streaming. Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, a foldable device aimed at enhancing streaming experiences. With a 7.6-inch screen and versatile orientations like 'Landscape' and 'Standing', the Duo is designed for optimal video viewing, positioning itself as a prime device for media consumption. Technically, the Duo is equipped with an A20 Pro chip and an advanced thermal management system to support high-performance streaming. The device's speakers adjust based on orientation, offering a tailored audio experience. Moreover, the collaboration with Netflix to optimize its app for the Duo highlights Apple's commitment to integrating streaming capabilities. This launch is poised to impact the streaming industry significantly. By offering a foldable device that caters specifically to media consumption, Apple is setting new standards for mobile streaming devices. This move could influence app developers to innovate their platforms, ensuring compatibility with new device features. Reflecting on the broader implications, the iPhone Duo's design aligns with a trend towards more immersive and flexible media consumption. As streaming becomes a central aspect of mobile use, devices like the Duo could redefine how consumers interact with digital content, potentially influencing future technological developments in the industry. Where Robles.AI fits. Robles.AI can leverage the advancements in AI-driven music remixing and conversational advertising as seen with ElevenLabs and Amazon DSP. By integrating similar AI models, Robles.AI could enhance content personalization and engagement for its clients, offering innovative solutions tailored to the evolving digital landscape. Its capabilities in developing interactive AI experiences align with the trends highlighted in these partnerships, providing a robust platform for future growth. #ElevenLabs #AmazonDSP #iPhoneDuo #UniversalMusicGroup #ChatGPTAds Sources. Tokens used: Prompt 10426, Completion 2517, Total 12943