RIAA and Suno CEO Clash Over AI Music Training Models in Copyright Battle
The RIAA and Suno CEO are engaged in a public dispute following major labels' copyright infringement lawsuits against AI music platforms Suno and Udio. The controversy centers on how protected media is used in generative AI training models.

Blue AI letters with circuitry
Suno CEO Mikey Shulman defended his company's technology as "transformative," claiming it creates entirely new outputs rather than copying existing content. He emphasized that Suno prohibits prompts referencing specific artists and accused labels of avoiding good faith discussions.
The RIAA quickly countered, questioning what sound recordings Suno had illegally copied. They claimed to have evidence of Suno's platform "memorizing and regurgitating" human-created art, contrary to Shulman's statements.
The central debate focuses on whether training AI systems on copyrighted media constitutes fair use. While AI developers argue it's transformative, rightsholders disagree, noting that if public domain works were sufficient, companies would use those instead.
This legal battle carries significant implications for:
- Future AI training practices
- Copyright protection in the digital age
- Compensation for rightsholders
- The preservation of human creativity in music

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AI Suno Udio logo on keyboard
The outcome of this case could set important precedents for how AI companies handle copyrighted material and compensate creators in the future.
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