Billboard has published its 2026 Top Music Lawyers list, recognising attorneys who negotiate recording deals, tours and catalogue sales for major artists and companies. The list arrives as generative AI dominates legal debate in the music industry, with lawyers playing a central role in disputes over whether AI firms have unlawfully used copyrighted songs to train their models.

Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group each sued AI companies Suno and Udio roughly two years ago, alleging unlicensed use of their catalogues. Warner has since settled both cases via licensing deals, and Universal has settled with Udio, while Sony continues litigation against both firms and Universal still pursues its case against Suno. Amid this, the National Music Publishers' Association recently struck licensing agreements with Udio and AI company KLAY, though a coalition of artists and songwriters issued a letter in late June warning against deals that strip creators of control over how AI uses their work.