A lawyer specialising in entertainment law has set out principles for ethical use of artificial intelligence in music creation, arguing that licensing deals between rightsholders and AI firms must be built on artists' consent, fair pay and transparency. Writing in an opinion piece, John Meller of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips says the industry is at a turning point as companies including Suno, Udio, Klay and Spotify pursue licensing arrangements to legitimise their AI offerings, and warns the sector risks repeating the mistakes of the piracy era if it fails to bring creators along with it.

Meller argues that songwriter and artist approval for AI training and licensing should be treated as non-negotiable, regardless of how existing recording and publishing contracts are worded. He cites Universal Music Group's reported deal with Spotify, under which UMG artists and writers must actively opt in, as a positive example, while criticising other labels for striking AI partnerships without seeking creator permission or for inserting clauses claiming perpetual rights to AI-generated voice and likeness. He notes that legal action against AI firms that train without permission is already under way, including a lawsuit his own firm filed against Anthropic on behalf of BMG.