AI Music Deals Are Happening, But How Artists Will Be Paid Remains a Mystery

Major record labels and music publishers are increasingly securing licensing deals to train generative AI models on copyrighted song catalogs. While these agreements establish a legal pathway for AI companies to access music, the industry has yet to standardize how royalties or payments will be distributed to individual performers and songwriters. This uncertainty leaves artists without clear expectations for how their creative work will be valued or compensated as AI-generated music becomes more prevalent.