Warner Music Group has been named to TIME‘s sixth annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, with the magazine citing the major music company’s approach to AI as the basis for its inclusion.
WMG was recognized for what TIME described as a strategy that balances protection with innovation, ensuring artists and songwriters benefit from the technology’s possibilities.
The list, published on Thursday (April 30), highlights 100 companies that TIME says are making an extraordinary impact around the world.
Others on this year’s list include Alphabet, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, Tencent, TikTok, Shopify, and Discord. The full list is available on TIME‘s website.
In its write-up of WMG‘s inclusion, TIME wrote: “A similar threat looms today around generative AI, which many artists and industry workers worry will devalue the output of human-made music, among other copyright concerns.”
The magazine added that WMG “aims to learn from the past” — drawing a parallel with the piracy crisis of the early 2000s.
TIME continued: “Instead of boycotting the new tech, CEO Robert Kyncl says WMG is on a mission to shape it.”
Kyncl told the magazine: “AI is a fast-growing phenomenon. It’s really important that companies like us stand up for artists and songwriters — do it early, and do it together with AI companies.”
According to WMG, the recognition follows a series of partnerships with AI companies — including Suno, Udio, Klay, and Stability AI — as well as its advocacy for the NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan US federal bill that would protect the voice and likeness of all individuals from unauthorized AI-generated re-creations.
TIME noted that WMG‘s approach is built on three pillars: (i) lobbying for the NO FAKES Act; (ii) forging partnerships with AI music companies to ensure their tools are trained on licensed music; and (iii) installing clauses in each deal that give artists and songwriters the choice to opt in or out of any use of their name, image, likeness, or voice in AI-generated songs.
Kyncl added: “You have to care about the industry as a whole. That’s why we do it.”
The inclusion caps a period in which WMG has been among the most active of the major music companies in striking AI licensing deals.
In November, WMG settled its copyright lawsuit with Suno and struck a licensing deal with the AI music generator, which the companies called a “first-of-its-kind partnership.”
The same month, WMG also settled with Udio and signed a licensing agreement for a next-generation AI music platform, as well as announcing a partnership with Stability AI.
The NO FAKES Act was reintroduced in Congress in April 2025 with the backing of all three major music companies, as well as tech companies including Google, Amazon, and OpenAI.
Kyncl has been one of the most prominent music industry voices in support of the legislation, having testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2024.
Separately, Spotify was named to TIME‘s inaugural TIME100 Companies: Industry Leaders list — a new expansion of the TIME100 franchise published alongside the main list — as one of the 10 Most Influential Entertainment Companies of 2026.
Spotify‘s entry focused on the growth of its video podcasting business rather than its music streaming operations. WMG also appeared on the entertainment industry leaders list in addition to the main TIME100.
On WMG‘s most recent earnings call, in February, Kyncl reiterated the “non-negotiable principles” underpinning the company’s AI strategy, telling analysts: “Our partners must commit to license models; the economic terms must properly reflect the value of music; and artists and songwriters must have a choice to opt in to any use of their name, image, likeness and voice in new AI-generated recordings.”Music Business Worldwide
Warner Music Group (WMG) has made it onto TIME’s sixth annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, primarily due to its innovative yet protective approach to artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry. Published on April 30, the list identifies 100 companies that are having a significant global impact, alongside industry giants such as Alphabet, Meta, OpenAI, and TikTok.
TIME’s recognition of WMG highlights its strategy to navigate the complexities of generative AI, a technology that has raised concerns among artists and industry professionals about potential devaluation of human-created music and copyright issues. WMG’s CEO, Robert Kyncl, has emphasized the importance of shaping AI technology rather than resisting it, noting that WMG aims to advocate for artists and songwriters as the industry adapts to these advancements. He stated, « AI is a fast-growing phenomenon. It’s really important that companies like us stand up for artists and songwriters — do it early, and do it together with AI companies.”
WMG’s efforts include a series of partnerships with AI firms such as Suno, Udio, Klay, and Stability AI, as well as its support for the NO FAKES Act. This bipartisan U.S. legislation aims to safeguard individuals’ voice and likeness from unauthorized AI-generated reproductions. According to TIME, WMG’s strategy is built on three main pillars: advocating for the NO FAKES Act, partnering with AI music companies to ensure they use licensed music, and including clauses in agreements that allow artists to opt in or out of their likeness being used in AI-generated works. Kyncl summarized the company’s philosophy by stating, “You have to care about the industry as a whole. That’s why we do it.”
The recognition from TIME and WMG’s proactive stance come after a series of significant licensing deals related to AI. In November, WMG settled a copyright lawsuit with Suno and established what was termed a « first-of-its-kind partnership » with the AI music generator. That same month, it also reached settlements and licensing agreements with Udio and announced a collaboration with Stability AI. The NO FAKES Act was reintroduced in Congress in April 2025, garnering support from all three major music companies and notable tech firms including Google, Amazon, and OpenAI. Kyncl has emerged as a vocal advocate for the legislation, having testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2024.
In addition to WMG’s recognition, Spotify was also featured in TIME’s inaugural TIME100 Companies: Industry Leaders list, highlighting its influence in the entertainment space, particularly through its expanding video podcasting business.
During WMG’s most recent earnings call in February, Kyncl reiterated the company’s « non-negotiable principles » regarding its AI strategy, emphasizing that partners must commit to licensing models, economic terms must reflect the value of music, and artists must have the choice to opt in to any use of their likeness in AI-generated content.
Overall, WMG’s inclusion in the TIME100 list signifies a pivotal moment in the intersection of technology and the music industry, as the company is not only adapting to new challenges but is also actively working to protect the rights and interests of artists in the face of rapid technological change.
