Universal and Warner Ask Court to Dismiss Musicians' AI Lawsuit
Universal Music Group and Warner Records have asked a federal court in New York to throw out a lawsuit from union musicians over licensed AI deals.
The labels filed reply briefs on 11 September in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking dismissal of the American Federation of Musicians case. The filings completed briefing on the dismissal requests, which ask the court to end the case without a trial. Music Business Worldwide
The union challenges licensing deals the two majors struck with AI music companies Suno and Udio. It alleges recordings made by its members were licensed to the two firms without compensation or credit. The claim is breach of contract, over alleged failure to share revenue from generative AI licences. Generative AI here means software that creates new music after learning from existing recordings.
Those partnerships were announced late last year. Universal Music Group said in October 2025 that it had signed strategic agreements with Udio for a licensed AI music creation platform. Universal Music Group Warner Music Group said in November 2025 that it had formed a partnership with Suno, which settled earlier litigation between the two companies. Warner Music Group Udio offers text-to-audio software, tools that build music from written prompts. The Conversation
The deals followed open conflict. In 2024, Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Records sued Suno and Udio for copyright infringement. Universal alleged that Udio had trained its system on its catalogue of music. Warner and Udio later settled that action and agreed to build a new AI platform together. CBC
The current case centres on Article 21(a) of the Sound Recording Labor Agreement, the labour contract that sets pay and working terms for union session players. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos held a pre-motion conference in the case on 21 July. There, AFM counsel Eyad Asad said there is no underlying AFM agreement for AI use. The union filed its opposition to dismissal on 4 September, and the 11 September replies closed the briefing round.
What makes this stand out is the turnaround. Two years ago the labels were suing the AI firms. Now they are business partners, and the argument is about who shares in the money. The decision now rests with the court.
