# Udio signs Kobalt partnership; licensed service expected later in 2026

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/udio-signs-kobalt-partnership-licensed-service-expected-later-in-2026-5db03f7b
Date: 9 Apr 2026
About: [Udio](https://technooptimist.io/companies/udio.md) · [Udio licensed platform](https://technooptimist.io/ai/udio-licensed-platform.md)
Original source: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/04/09/udio-kobalt-deal/

Publisher Kobalt agreed a strategic partnership with Udio covering forthcoming products, after Udio's deals with Universal, Warner and indie-label agency Merlin. Kobalt said the licensed service is expected to launch later in 2026. Financial terms and artist pay were not disclosed.

## Key facts

- Udio now has deals with Universal, Warner, Merlin (Jan 2026) and Kobalt.
- Sony Music has no deal and is still suing Udio.
- Udio also faces an artist-led class action over training data.

---

The Techno Optimist tracks every frontier of technology, program by program: https://technooptimist.io/ (a Markdown version of any page: add .md to its URL; site map for agents: https://technooptimist.io/llms.txt).
Data API (JSON, realtime stream): https://technooptimist.io/developers. People read 5 pages free, then Reader $10/month; these Markdown pages are open to agents.