The AirGigs Creator Report: Weekly Music Industry News & Opportunities – Week 14
It’s Week 14 of the AirGigs Creator Report – time flies!
Each week, we bring you key updates from across the music industry, including platform changes, technology developments, royalty news, and trends that matter to independent musicians, producers, and creators.
In the news this week:
Udio asks court to seal AI training data details in Sony copyright lawsuit
AI music platform Udio is asking a federal court to keep the size of its AI training dataset confidential in the ongoing copyright lawsuit brought by Sony Music Entertainment.
The request was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, where Udio argued that publicly revealing the total number of audio files used to train its AI models could cause “competitive harm.” According to the company, competitors could use that information to better understand Udio’s training methods and potentially develop rival products more quickly and cheaply.
The filing comes just days after rival AI music company Suno made a similar request in its own copyright case.
Importantly, Udio says it is not trying to hide which recordings Sony alleges were used in training. Instead, the company is specifically seeking to keep the overall volume of training data out of the public record.
Sony Music recently asked the court for permission to expand its complaint by adding more than 30,000 copyrighted recordings it claims were copied and ingested into Udio’s AI systems. Those recordings were reportedly identified after Sony gained access to Udio’s training data during discovery.
The broader lawsuit dates back to June 2024, when Sony, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group sued both Udio and Suno for alleged copyright infringement related to AI training practices. Udio and Suno have both acknowledged using copyrighted music in training but maintain that the practice qualifies as “fair use.”
Meanwhile, Udio is also reportedly working with UMG and Warner on a licensed AI music platform expected to launch in 2026.
Why this matters:
This case continues to shape the future relationship between AI music companies and the traditional music industry. The debate is no longer just about whether copyrighted music was used – it’s now also about transparency, licensing, competitive advantage, and how much AI companies should be required to reveal about the systems powering their models. For musicians, producers, and rights holders, these decisions could have major long-term implications for ownership, compensation, and the future of AI-generated music.
Garth Brooks reportedly exploring music catalog sale worth up to $2 billion
Country music icon Garth Brooks is reportedly considering selling his music catalog in a deal that could be valued between the high $1 billion range and more than $2 billion.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Brooks has been weighing the possibility of a catalog sale for several years and has recently discussed the idea with potential investors.
If completed, the deal would rank among the largest music catalog transactions ever made for an individual artist or group.
Brooks recently surpassed 200 million albums sold in the US, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making him one of the best-selling artists in American music history. He is also the only artist to have 10 albums certified diamond, each representing more than 10 million sales.
His catalog includes major hits such as Friends in Low Places, The Dance, and Shameless.
The report places Brooks alongside a growing list of legendary artists whose catalogs have become highly valuable investment assets. In recent years, Sony Music has reportedly spent billions acquiring or investing in catalogs from artists including Queen, Michael Jackson, and Pink Floyd.
One unique factor in Brooks’s case is his limited presence on streaming services. Unlike many major artists, Brooks has historically kept his music off platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. Since 2016, his music has been available exclusively through Amazon Music as part of a streaming partnership.
According to the report, potential investors may see wider streaming availability as a key opportunity for future growth and revenue.
Why this matters:
Music catalogs continue to be viewed as some of the entertainment industry’s most valuable long-term assets. For artists, songwriters, and producers, these deals highlight how streaming, licensing, publishing, and legacy recordings can generate revenue far beyond touring cycles. Brooks’s potential sale also raises interesting questions about exclusivity, streaming strategy, and how much untapped value may still exist in catalogs that have remained relatively limited online.
Suno raises over $400 million at $5.4 billion valuation amid ongoing copyright battles
AI music platform Suno has raised more than $400 million in new funding, bringing the company’s valuation to approximately $5.4 billion.
The Series D round was led by Bond Capital and included participation from major investors such as IVP, Union Square Ventures, Lightspeed, Menlo Ventures, and others. According to Suno CEO and co-founder Mikey Shulman, the round also included backing from artists, producers, songwriters, and music industry figures, though no names were publicly disclosed.
The new funding more than doubles Suno’s valuation from the $2.45 billion figure reported after its Series C round in late 2025.
In a statement announcing the raise, Shulman said the funding will help the company expand hiring, develop new products, and continue growing its AI music platform. Suno currently employs around 200 people and reportedly plans to increase its workforce significantly by the end of the year.
The company says it surpassed 2 million paid subscribers earlier this year and is on pace for approximately $300 million in annual revenue.
At the same time, Suno remains at the center of several major copyright disputes involving the music industry.
The RIAA sued both Suno and rival AI platform Udio in 2024 on behalf of the major labels, accusing the companies of using copyrighted recordings to train AI music models without permission. Suno has since settled with Warner Music Group, but legal disputes with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment are ongoing.
According to recent court filings, UMG and Sony have identified more than 61,000 copyrighted recordings allegedly contained within Suno’s training data.
Despite the lawsuits, Suno is continuing to develop licensing partnerships with parts of the music industry. Bloomberg reports that the company is already testing products under its partnership with Warner Music Group, with plans to launch new AI music experiences in the coming months.
Shulman said Suno also plans to release its first AI music model developed in partnership with the music industry later this year.
Why this matters:
Suno’s latest funding round shows just how much investor confidence still exists around AI music platforms, even amid ongoing copyright battles and industry backlash. For musicians, producers, and songwriters, the story highlights the rapidly growing influence — and financial power — of AI companies in the music space. It also underscores the increasingly complicated relationship between traditional rights holders and emerging AI platforms, where lawsuits and licensing negotiations are now happening simultaneously.
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