Generative AI music startup Suno is at the center of a growing debate over whether artificial intelligence will transform or undermine the music industry. Chief executive and co-founder Mikey Shulman says AI should be viewed as a creative tool that enables a new, interactive format for music rather than a replacement for human artists.
Founded just over two years ago, Suno allows users to generate full songs from text prompts. The company has attracted strong investor backing, raising $250 million in late 2024 at a valuation of $2.45 billion, despite ongoing legal challenges from major rights holders. In the U.S., the Recording Industry Association of America has sued Suno on behalf of leading labels, while Germany’s GEMA has filed a separate case, both alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted works in training AI models.
Suno has reached a licensing agreement with Warner Music Group, but disputes with other major labels remain unresolved. Shulman has said the company trains models on music available on the open internet, a position contested by the record industry.
As AI-generated tracks increasingly flood streaming platforms and raise concerns about quality, fraud, and artist compensation, Suno’s future may help determine whether generative music becomes a mainstream creative aid or a disruptive force that reshapes how music is made and valued. Similar debates are unfolding in Hollywood, where figures like Ben Affleck have argued that AI tools are more likely to support creative work than replace human artists outright — underscoring a growing consensus across entertainment that AI’s impact may ultimately hinge on how it is integrated, governed, and creatively constrained.
