# Udio

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/udio
Udio makes complete songs, vocals included, from a text prompt. Founded by former Google DeepMind researchers, it settled with Universal and Warner and is rebuilding as a licensed fan-creation service.

## In brief

- The first AI music app to settle with a major label: Universal (Oct 2025), then Warner, Merlin and Kobalt.
- Downloads have been off since Oct 2025 while it builds a licensed service; Sony is still suing.
- The planned service lets fans remix and cover songs by artists who opt in, with credit and pay.

## Facts

- Founded: 2023
- Headquarters: US
- Status: private
- Website: https://www.udio.com
- Frontiers: [AI](https://technooptimist.io/ai.md) (Voice & music)

## Programs

- [Udio licensed platform](https://technooptimist.io/ai/udio-licensed-platform.md) (AI): Pilot; next: Launch licensed subscription service (2026). Downloads off since Oct 2025; licensed subscription service still unlaunched as of late Sept 2026.

## Technical approach

- **Generation: Whole songs from a prompt**: Udio's models produce vocals, lyrics and instruments together from a text description, rather than assembling stems.
- **Licensing: Train only on licensed music**: Under its label deals, the new platform runs on models trained only on authorised, licensed recordings and compositions.
- **Controls: Fingerprinting and filters**: Before relaunch Udio adds audio fingerprinting and filtering so outputs can be traced and infringing material blocked.

## Open problems

- **Paying artists fairly** (open): Deals leave open how opt-in artists and songwriters are paid per remix or cover; terms are not disclosed.
- **Remaining lawsuits** (open): Sony Music and an artist-led class action still claim Udio trained on copyrighted songs without permission.

## Latest updates

- **9 Apr 2026**: Udio signs Kobalt partnership; licensed service expected later in 2026. Publisher Kobalt agreed a strategic partnership with Udio covering forthcoming products, after Udio's deals with Universal, Warner and indie-label agency Merlin. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/udio-signs-kobalt-partnership-licensed-service-expected-later-in-2026-5db03f7b.md) · [original source](https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/04/09/udio-kobalt-deal/))
- **19 Nov 2025**: Warner Music settles with Udio and licenses its catalogue for a 2026 platform. Warner Music Group resolved its lawsuit with Udio and signed a licence covering its recordings and publishing. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/warner-music-settles-with-udio-and-licenses-its-catalogue-for-a-2026-2a5aa0bc.md) · [original source](https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/warner-music-group-signs-ai-licensing-agreement-with-udio/093097))
- **29 Oct 2025**: Universal Music settles with Udio and licenses it to build an AI music platform. Universal Music Group settled its copyright lawsuit against Udio and signed recording and publishing licences. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/universal-music-settles-with-udio-and-licenses-it-to-build-an-ai-music-c8ab311c.md) · [original source](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-music-settles-udio-lawsuit-strikes-deal-for-licensed-ai-music-platform))

## Partners, customers and investors

- Universal Music Group (partner): Settlement plus recording and publishing licences; joint licensed platform planned (Oct 2025).
- Warner Music Group (partner): Settlement and licence covering recorded music and publishing (Nov 2025).
- Kobalt (partner): Publishing partnership on forthcoming products (April 2026).
- Andreessen Horowitz (investor): Backer, with will.i.am, Mike Krieger and Oriol Vinyals.

## People

- Andrew Sanchez, Co-founder & CEO

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