ElevenLabs Ventures into AI-Generated Music

AI voice technology pioneer ElevenLabs has officially entered the music generation space with its new service Eleven Music. The platform enables users to create complete musical compositions—including vocals and instrumentation—by inputting simple English prompts like "create a pop jazz song with a '60s atmosphere".

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service provider is Midjourney

Addressing Copyright Challenges Head-On

The launch comes amid ongoing legal battles in the AI music sector. Unlike competitors facing lawsuits from major labels, ElevenLabs has proactively secured agreements with:

• Merlin Network (representing independent labels)
• Kobalt Music Group (independent publishing)

These partnerships provide legal clearance for training data while preventing outputs containing copyrighted lyrics or artist names. CEO Mati Staniszewski confirms negotiations are underway with the "Big Three" record companies (Universal, Sony, Warner).

Commercial Applications Take Center Stage

Currently serving 20 undisclosed clients, Eleven Music focuses on business applications including:

• Film/TV scoring
• Video game soundtracks
• Fitness/meditation app backgrounds

The service eliminates the need for expensive licensing or commissioned composers—a potential game-changer for advertising agencies and content creators.

Industry Reactions and Ethical Considerations

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) cautions: "While AI innovation excites us, technology must respect human creators' rights." This reflects broader industry concerns as AI-generated content becomes commercially viable.

Key Points:

🎵 Commercial-ready AI music from text prompts in minutes
🤝 Preemptive licensing deals with Merlin/Kobalt set legal precedent
⚖️ Ongoing copyright negotiations with major labels could reshape industry standards