Irving Azoff’s Music Artists Coalition Among 31 Groups Warning Against ‘Misuse’ of Artist and Songwriter Rights in AI Deals

A coalition of 31 global organizations representing artists, songwriters, and managers has issued an open letter demanding that record labels and publishers stop the unauthorized inclusion of creator rights in artificial intelligence licensing deals. Coordinated by the European Music Managers Alliance, the group argues that major industry players are negotiating transformative AI agreements without meaningfully consulting the creators whose identities and works provide the value for such deals. This collective action highlights a growing rift between rightsholders and creators over the control of moral, image, and personality rights as the industry integrates generative AI technology.

The open letter, signed by prominent groups such as the Music Artists Coalition and Songwriters of North America, alleges that major labels and publishers are increasingly implementing default opt-ins for AI-related uses in existing contracts. Furthermore, the coalition claims that new recording and publishing deals now frequently include mandatory AI rights clauses as a standard condition for signing. The signatories emphasize that artists and songwriters remain the primary holders of many rights at stake—including moral, neighboring, image, and personality rights—and assert that these are not assets for labels or publishers to license without explicit authority and consent.

The movement follows a series of high-profile legal settlements and licensing agreements between major labels and AI platforms. In late 2025, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group reached compensatory settlements and licensing deals with AI music platforms Udio and Suno, following lawsuits over unauthorized training. The coalition cites a WPI Economics study reporting that 274 commercial licensing agreements had been struck between rightsholders and AI developers by 2026, involving platforms like Spotify, Suno, and Udio. These developments have prompted concerns from leaders like EMMA Executive Director Jess Partridge, who described the current trend as a misappropriation and landgrab of creator rights that risks repeating historical industry mistakes.

To address these concerns, the coalition has established three core principles: Consent & Control, Fair Compensation, and Clarity & Transparency. They demand that consent must not be a condition of signing a deal and that artists must be able to refuse AI participation without fear of penalization. Additionally, the groups are calling for clear breakdowns of revenue sharing between creators, labels, and AI companies, alongside timely information regarding any AI-related deals. In response, the IFPI stated that its members are leading the fight to protect rights against wholesale theft by tech companies while developing licensing models intended to return revenue to creators.