This week, ElevenLabs struck its first agreement with a major music company — a multi-year licensing deal with Universal Music Group.
Meanwhile, Suno launched its new v6 AI music models in partnership with Warner Music Group, BMG and Believe.
In related news: Suno and Believe struck a global licensing deal covering participating repertoire from Believe and TuneCore.
Also this week, HYBE‘s superfan platform Weverse confirmed a data leak affecting 422,584 accounts, including payment and refund details.
Plus: UMG confirmed it has now bought back nearly €1 billion of its own shares in 2026.
Here are some of the biggest headlines from the past few days…
1. ElevenLabs’ $11B valuation is more than twice the size of Suno’s. It just struck a global AI music deal with UMG.
Universal Music Group has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with ElevenLabs.
ElevenLabs will launch a new AI-powered music platform for fans under the deal, with the two companies also jointly developing AI audio products for artists and songwriters.
It is ElevenLabs‘ first agreement with a major music company, according to the two firms. (MBW)
2. Suno inks global licensing deal with Believe
Believe has struck a strategic partnership with Suno, just over four months after it began blocking the distribution of tracks made on the AI music platform.
The agreement, announced on Tuesday (September 8), covers “participating repertoire” from Believe and TuneCore, its platform for self-releasing artists. Believe confirmed to MBW that the partnership is global in scope.
“Under the agreement, music from participating Believe and TuneCore artists and labels will be included in the new music models that Suno is launching in partnership with the music industry,” the two companies said. (MBW)
3. Suno launches v6 AI music models in partnership with WMG, BMG, and Believe
AI music platform Suno, facing copyright claims on several fronts, has been promising licensed models since November 2025.
That month, it settled Warner Music Group’s copyright lawsuit and said it would launch “new, more advanced and licensed models” in 2026.
In the months since, Suno has signed deals with BMG and, just yesterday, Believe. It has also committed to audio watermarking and fingerprinting technology, and capped the number of songs its subscribers can download each month. (MBW)
4. HYBE’s Weverse confirms data leak affecting 422,584 accounts, including payment and refund details
HYBE’s superfan platform Weverse has confirmed that data from 422,584 accounts was leaked, a figure the company said was calculated based on account ID units.
The leak was disclosed in a notice issued on Sunday (September 6) by Zooil Yang, President of Weverse Company, the HYBE subsidiary that operates the platform.
The company classified one leaked item as personal information: internal identification information, which it described as a unique internal numerical value generated for user identification at registration. (MBW)
5. UMG has now bought back nearly €1 billion of its shares this year
Universal Music Group has completed the €250 million share buyback program it launched in August – the last of three repurchases under a €1 billion share repurchase commitment the company set out in April.
UMG has spent EUR €999.2 million (USD $1.16 billion) on its own stock this year as a result.
Universal confirmed on Monday (September 7) that the €250 million program, the second of two open-market buybacks it has run this year, was finished. (MBW)
Partner message: MBW’s Weekly Round-up is supported by BMI, the global leader in performing rights management, dedicated to supporting songwriters, composers and publishers and championing the value of music. Find out more about BMI here. Music Business Worldwide
Music Business Worldwide Weekly Round-up: Key Highlights
In this week’s edition of Music Business Worldwide’s Weekly Round-up, we present the most significant news from the music industry, with exclusive support from BMI, a leader in performing rights management. Here are the top five stories that made headlines:
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ElevenLabs Partners with Universal Music Group (UMG)
ElevenLabs has announced a groundbreaking multi-year licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. This deal marks ElevenLabs’ first collaboration with a major music company and is valued at an impressive $11 billion—more than double the valuation of its competitor, Suno. Under the terms of this agreement, ElevenLabs will develop an AI-powered music platform aimed at enhancing fan engagement, while also collaborating on new AI audio products tailored for artists and songwriters. This partnership is significant as it underscores the growing importance of AI in the music industry, providing new tools and opportunities for creators. -
Suno’s Strategic Licensing Agreement with Believe
In a notable turn of events, Believe has entered into a global licensing deal with Suno, just months after taking measures to block the distribution of tracks produced by the AI music platform. The announcement reveals that the agreement will include music from participating artists and labels associated with Believe and TuneCore, the self-releasing platform. This partnership is expected to further expand Suno’s offerings, as it aligns with the company’s commitment to establishing licensed AI music models, enhancing the legitimacy and scope of its operations. -
Launch of Suno’s v6 AI Music Models
Following its recent partnerships, Suno has unveiled its new v6 AI music models in collaboration with Warner Music Group (WMG), BMG, and Believe. This launch comes after Suno faced challenges related to copyright claims and is a response to the ongoing demand for more advanced and licensed AI models. The company has committed to implementing audio watermarking and fingerprinting technology to protect against copyright infringement. Additionally, Suno has introduced limitations on the number of songs its subscribers can download each month, indicating a move towards more sustainable and responsible use of AI technology in music. -
Weverse Data Breach
HYBE’s fan engagement platform, Weverse, has confirmed a significant data leak that affected 422,584 accounts. The breach includes sensitive information such as payment and refund details, raising concerns about user privacy and data security. The company’s president, Zooil Yang, disclosed the leak in a notice, highlighting that internal identification information was among the compromised data. This incident underscores the importance of data protection in the digital age, especially for platforms that serve large and active fan bases. -
UMG’s Share Buyback Program
Universal Music Group has successfully completed a €250 million share buyback program, part of a broader strategy that aims to repurchase nearly €1 billion worth of its shares within 2026. To date, UMG has bought back a total of approximately €999.2 million (equivalent to around $1.16 billion) in its stock this year. The completion of this buyback program signals UMG’s strong financial position and commitment to returning value to its shareholders.
Conclusion
This week’s developments reflect the ongoing evolution of the music industry, particularly in the realms of artificial intelligence, copyright management, and data security. The partnerships formed between AI platforms and major music companies highlight a growing trend towards leveraging technology to enhance music creation and distribution. At the same time, incidents like the Weverse data breach serve as a reminder of the vulnerabilities that come with digital engagement in the music sector. As UMG continues to invest in its own growth through share repurchases, the industry remains poised for further innovation and change.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights as the music business landscape continues to evolve. For more information about BMI and their support for songwriters, composers, and publishers, visit their official website.
