The potential exploitation of Hollywood performers and singers by artificial intelligence is set to be curbed until 2026, following a tentative agreement between the SAG-AFTRA union and major record labels. The agreement, which must be approved by SAG-AFTRA members, stipulates that artists must give “explicit and unambiguous consent” before any sound recording featuring a digitally replicated version of their voice is released. The artist must receive a minimum level of compensation and a breakdown of how their voice will be used. The union, which represents a significant percentage of US creative workers and was at the forefront of Hollywood strikes last year, expects the new agreement to be embodied in a new SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Sound Recordings.
The deal covers the period from 2021 to 2026 and involves the Warner Music Group, the Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and the Disney Music Group. Consequently, some earlier recordings will also be protected. Still, instrumental musicians, who are represented by the American Federation of Musicians, will probably not be safeguarded under this agreement.
The burgeoning field of AI-generated text-to-music tools, such as Udio and Suno, has caused concern among musicians and performers. These applications have produced music strikingly similar to notable international hits and have been accused of benefiting from copyrighted works without seeking the composer’s prior consent. An unauthorized AI mashup of music by Drake and The Weeknd received billions of views across various social media platforms before being banned by the Grammys.
In response, musicians are taking robust action to protect their rights. 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, and Katy Perry, have expressed their concerns in an open letter arranged by the Artists’ Rights Alliance. Against this backdrop, the tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the record labels represents a preliminary step towards safeguarding artists’ rights, especially in the context of Udio’s recent release. However, the landscape could change significantly by 2026, with AI tools likely to have developed further. As with SAG-AFTRA’s agreement with film and TV producers, renegotiating favorable arrangements after this point could become more challenging.
