According to a press release issued on Thursday (November 20), these agreements “establish terms on which KLAY will help further evolve music experiences for fans, leveraging the potential of AI, while fully respecting the rights of artists, songwriters, and rightsholders”.
The company states that it is developing an AI music platform that “reimagines listening with immersive, interactive tools,” powered by KLAY’s Large Music Model, which, according to the announcement, is “trained entirely on licensed music.”
KLAY says that it has been working with key parties in the music industry for more than a year “to build an innovative and comprehensive licensing framework for an AI-driven music experience”.
The company said that it is currently expanding its efforts to include “all independent labels, artists, publishers, and songwriters in this framework”, with the aim to create “a scalable foundation for the industry at large”.
KLAY’s leadership team includes Ary Attie (Founder & CEO; musician), Thomas Hesse (Co-Founder & Chief Content and Commercial Officer; former President, Global Digital Business & US Sales & Distribution, Sony Music Entertainment), Björn Winckler (Chief AI Officer; former leader of Google DeepMind’s music initiatives), and Brian Whitman (Chief Technology Officer; former Principal Scientist at Spotify and Founder of The Echo Nest).
Carletta Higginson, EVP, Chief Digital Officer, WMG said: “Our goal is always to support and elevate the creativity of our artists and songwriters, while fiercely protecting their rights and works.
“We appreciate the KLAY team’s work in advancing this technology and guiding these important agreements.”
Carletta Higginson, WMG
Added Higginson: “From day one, KLAY has taken the right approach to the rapidly-evolving AI universe by creating a holistic platform that both expands artistic possibilities and preserves the value of music.
“We appreciate the KLAY team’s work in advancing this technology and guiding these important agreements.”
Michael Nash, EVP, Chief Digital Officer, UMG added: “We are very pleased to have concluded a commercial license with KLAY Vision, following up on our industry-first strategic collaboration framework agreement announced one year ago.
“We are very pleased to have concluded a commercial license with KLAY Vision, following up on our industry-first strategic collaboration framework agreement announced one year ago.”
Michael Nash, UMG
Added Nash: “The supportive role we played with the capable and diversified management team of Ary, Thomas, Björn and Brian in the development of their product and business model extends our long-standing commitment to entrepreneurial innovation in the digital music ecosystem. We’re excited about their transformational vision and applaud their commitment to ethicality in Generative AI music, which has been a key foundation of our partnership with them from the very start of their journey.”
“We are pleased to partner with KLAY Vision to collaborate on new generative AI products.”
Dennis Kooker, SME
Dennis Kooker, President, Global Digital Business, SME said: “We are pleased to partner with KLAY Vision to collaborate on new generative AI products. While this is a beginning, we want to work with companies that understand that proper licenses are needed from rightsholders to build next-generation AI music experiences.”
“Technology is shaped by the people behind it and the people who use it. At KLAY, from the beginning, we set out to earn the trust of the artists and songwriters whose work makes all of this possible.”
Ary Attie, KLAY
Ary Attie, Founder & CEO, KLAY said: “Technology is shaped by the people behind it and the people who use it. At KLAY, from the beginning, we set out to earn the trust of the artists and songwriters whose work makes all of this possible.
“We will continue to operate with those values, bringing together a growing community to reimagine how music can be shared, enjoyed, and valued. Our goal is simple: to help people experience more of the music they love, in ways that were never possible before—while helping create new value for artists and songwriters. Music is human at its core. Its future must be too.”Music Business Worldwide
