Sony Develops AI Music Copyright Detection Technology
Sony Group has developed a technology designed to identify the original music sources used in songs generated by artificial intelligence (AI). This innovation aims to facilitate compensation for songwriters whose perform may have been utilized in the training of AI models, addressing growing concerns about copyright infringement in the age of AI-generated content.
How the Technology Works
Sony’s technology analyzes AI-generated music to determine which artists’ songs contributed to its creation. It quantifies the influence of each original work, providing a percentage breakdown – for example, identifying that an AI song incorporates 30% of music by The Beatles and 10% by Queen [1].
The analysis process can occur in two ways. If the AI developer cooperates, Sony can directly access the developer’s base model system to gather data. When cooperation isn’t possible, the technology estimates the contribution of original works by comparing the AI-generated music to existing songs.
Addressing AI Copyright Concerns
The rise of AI has led to numerous disputes regarding the use of copyrighted material – including music, video, and writing – to train AI models. Specifically in the music industry, AI-generated songs mimicking the voices of established singers have surfaced online, raising complex copyright questions.
Revenue Distribution for AI Music
Sony believes this technology will pave the way for a system that fairly distributes revenue generated by AI music to the original songwriters based on their contribution. This approach seeks to balance innovation in AI with the protection of intellectual property rights.
Queen’s Catalog Acquisition by Sony
In a separate, significant development, Sony Music Entertainment acquired the catalog of Queen in June 2024 for GBP £1 billion (USD $1.27 billion) [2]. This deal encompasses Queen’s recording and publishing rights, as well as royalties from previous agreements with Disney Music Group and Universal Music Group.
Currently, Disney owns Queen’s recorded music catalog in North America, even as Universal Music Group (UMG) handles global distribution for Disney. Under the terms of the acquisition, UMG will continue to distribute Queen’s music in North America, with Sony receiving the royalties. Full worldwide distribution rights will transfer to Sony in 2026 or 2027 [2], making Sony Music the sole distributor and owner of all Queen content globally.
The acquisition as well includes name and likeness rights, potentially opening avenues for merchandise and other ventures. Brian May and Roger Taylor, continuing members of Queen, will retain control over revenue from live performances [2].
Sony and the Beatles Catalog
Sony also holds the Beatles catalog through its ownership of Sony/ATV [3].