In a groundbreaking partnership, Universal Music Group (UMG) has joined forces with AI company Klay Vision to develop an "ethical" foundational model for AI music generation. The collaboration aims to create a Large Music Model, dubbed KLayMM, which will work in tandem with the music industry and its creators to produce innovative music experiences.

Klay's CEO, Ary Attie, boldly claims that the "next Beatles" will utilize their AI music technology, although the company is not yet ready to showcase its product. The partnership's primary objective is to build generative AI music models that respect copyright, name, and likeness rights, ensuring a transformational impact on the music industry without threatening human creators.

This development comes at a time when UMG is involved in lawsuits against AI music generator sites and Anthropic, and has recently signed a new licensing arrangement with TikTok covering AI-generated music. Klay's team, comprising industry veterans like Thomas Hesse, former president of Sony Music Entertainment, and Björn Winckler, former head of Google's Lyria AI music model, is poised to make a significant impact on the music tech landscape.

With the promise of "accurate attribution" and a global ecosystem for AI-driven experiences, Klay's technology is expected to create new avenues for creativity and monetization of copyrights. The music industry is bracing for a revolution, and this partnership may just be the catalyst it needs.