The end of 2025 was marked by a series of new deals signed between major record labels and companies specialised in AI-generated music. Much of the attention undoubtedly focused on the settlements that SUNO and UDIO made with most of these labels and the licensing deals that resulted from them. However, at the European Parliament not everyone seems impressed by the bravado with which these deals were announced, and some have doubts whether these deals are fully compliant with European law, a requirement given that SUNO and UDIO are available as services in the EU. Driven by recent developments in France, a group of seven MEPs from three different political groups submitted a question to the European Parliament inviting Vice-President Virkkunen to clarify the matter.
The question, published yesterday on the Parliament’s website, specifically addresses the situation in France. France is one of the few countries in the European Union where all musicians’ have made use of the possibility to opt-out and made it clear that they don’t want their music used by AI companies without their permission. Through their collective management organisations (CMOs), this opt-out has been made not only with regard to the copyright on the lyrics and compositions, but also with regard to the so-called related rights on the recordings themselves.
French MEPs Emma Rafowicz (S&D), Laurence Farreng (Renew) and David Cormand (Verts/ALE) confront Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, responsible for both AI and copyright, now with the request to confirm that: “if companies offering a product similar to that of Suno and Udio wish to offer their services in the EU, they must in all cases respect and comply with the opt-out expressed by the French CMOs and specifically in all cases they must obtain explicit authorisation from said CMOs prior to using their repertoire?” Their question received support by colleagues from Germany (Sabine Verheyen), Italy (Sandro Ruotolo), Austria (Hannes Heide) and Poland (Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski).
MEP Rafowicz explains the decision to table the question. “The EU has been the first region in the world to install a regulation on AI providers. While we are still looking into how a better balance between Copyright and AI can be found, we need to make sure that the rules that are in place are respected. So we need the Commission to confirm that they will demand services such as SUNO and UDIO to respect EU copyright when they provide their services – which are trained on large amounts of EU content – to EU citizens.”
The situation is particularly cynical for Universal Music Group, by far the leader in signing deals with AI companies. UMG, still for 28% in French hands, represents a catalogue particularly rich in French recordings and has repeatedly been condemned by French courts for infringing performers’ rights. There is therefore no doubt that they are fully aware of the opt-out that the French CMOs have made on behalf of the musicians on these recordings. Nonetheless it stubbornly continues to enter into agreements with third parties knowing it does not hold the relevant rights.
Benoît Galopin, General Counsel at French performer CMO Spedidam states: “Spedidam welcomes the initiative of the MEPs and fully supports their call for clarification on how European law applies to AI-generated music services, especially at a time when Executive Vice-President Virkkunen is tasked with leading the Commission’s work to conclude the review of the CDSM Directive.”
Elizabeth Le Hot, CEO of ADAMI states: “Adami welcomes the intervention of European parliamentarians who have referred the issue to the European Commission regarding the protection of musical works used by AI-generated music providers. Last November, Adami, with our union partners, had already warned of the risks posed by agreements between AI providers and major record labels to performers’ rights. It should be noted that the right of opposition (opt-out) exercised by Adami and their partners on behalf of thousands of members cannot be ignored, and that in Europe, no mode of exploitation can occur without the artist’s consent and remuneration.
AEPO-ARTIS embraces the initiative that brings together MEPs from across party lines. The recent developments are particularly worrisome. Not only have the major record labels been negotiating a license agreement with these and other AI companies without having obtained the consent of the artists involved. Some of the deal include taken an equity share with no guarantee that the profits these make will be shared with the human artists whose work is being exploited. This is the same business practice that was adopted when streaming began, and we have seen numerous studies and reports indicating that the streaming model is unfair to our artists.
“Artists now fear that history is going to repeat itself and are particularly concerned that they are not being included in these negotiations. Just as with streaming, they fear that they will be presented with a fait accompli and no power to enable them to receive appropriate and proportionate remuneration” states AEPO-ARTIS General Secretary Ioan Kaes. “We therefore expect the Commission to send a strong signal to both parties that the rules provided by the EU in this regard will be complied with.”
The full question is accessible via this link.
