UMG: Sir Lucian Grainge Defends New Deal with Spotify
Behind its rhetoric about protecting artists from AI, Universal Music Group is unveiling an ambivalent strategy that turns the technological threat into an opportunity for selective monetization. Far from being a mere ethical stance, this maneuver aims to offset the dilution of streaming revenue on major platforms like Spotify. During a speech in Los Angeles on May 21, Sir Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group (UMG), presented the music giant’s ambivalent strategy… regarding artificial intelligence. While Lucian Grainge deemed artists’ opt-in for the use of their name, image, and voice by AI to be “critical,” this protective principle is in reality coupled with a selective monetization approach. The CEO defended the new licensing agreement with Spotify, allowing fans to generate AI-powered remixes and covers. This tool will be offered…