Universal, Warner and Sony recently announced licensing deals with AI companies. ECSA underscores lack of transparency, calls on the major labels to properly value the works of composers and songwriters and warns policymakers against severe consequences on music market’s free competition.
The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance issued a statement to voice that “very little detail” is provided about the involvement, consent and contractual terms given to music authors and artists” in the recently announced agreements between the three major labels – Universal, Warner and Sony – and AI companies Udio, Suno, and KLAY.
Highlighting this lack of transparency, ECSA calls on the three major labels to ensure that licensing deals involve parity between publishing and master rights, and implore them to provide transparency over the licensing terms.
Representing over 30,000 professional composers and songwriters in 28 European countries, ECSA also calls on European policymakers and competition authorities “to duly consider the competitive dimension of these deals and their consequences for the European music market and cultural diversity”.
The authors of the statement warn that “We simply cannot afford a repeat of the music streaming model” which has lead music authors to receive today “less than 10% of the revenues generated by music streaming”.
The letter underscores that the proposed acquisition of Downtown by Universal Music Group “would have severe consequences on free competition in the music market, to the detriment of music creators, music listeners and the entire European music sector, “if approved”.
The two companies recently received the European Commission’s Statement of Objections following an in-depth investigation on the proposed acquisition of Downtown. The Commission’s final decision on the acquisition is expected in February 2026.
Find the full statement here
