Report finds nearly 300 AI licensing agreements signed across creative industries

The findings, contained in a report by WPI Economics, were recently referenced by the Featured Artists Coalition in connection with an open letter signed by 31 organisations calling for consent-based approaches to AI licensing and data usage.

According to the report, the agreements span a range of creative sectors. While some focus on areas such as content identification and rights management technologies, most involve generative AI systems trained on creative works.

Examples cited in the report include agreements involving major music companies and AI firms, such as partnerships between Sony Music Entertainment and Vermillio, as well as Universal Music Group and ProRata.ai. Other deals referenced involve companies including Spotify, ElevenLabs, BandLab and Splice.

Despite the increase in licensing activity, the report found that many independent music companies have yet to engage directly with AI licensing. Survey data collected from 31 independent BPI member organisations showed that only 16% had begun exploring AI licensing partnerships.

The report also found that only 25% of medium-sized music companies and 5% of smaller companies had completed a licensing agreement for use in an AI product.

However, a majority of respondents indicated a willingness to participate in future arrangements, with 77% stating that they would be open to licensing their music for what they considered ethical AI uses.

The findings emerge amid ongoing debate over the use of copyrighted material in AI systems. Several licensing agreements have drawn criticism from artists, unions and advocacy groups over issues including transparency, consent and revenue sharing.

The report also examined public attitudes towards compensation for creators whose work is used in AI training. Based on a survey of 3 000 consumers, 13% said they had used music-generating AI tools, while 6% reported paying for such services.

Among respondents who paid for AI services, 65% agreed that economic benefits generated by AI should be shared with creators whose work contributes to AI training. The figure fell to 60% among users of free AI services and 47% among those who said they had never used AI.

The findings suggest that while AI licensing agreements are becoming increasingly common across the creative industries, participation among independent music companies remains limited, even as many indicate a willingness to explore future partnerships.