According to Endel, so-called functional music (e.g. music for sleep, running, relaxation etc) “represents one of the largest sub-categories of music listening worldwide, encompassing an estimated 15 billion streams a month across all music platforms”.
Under this “groundbreaking” agreement, the two companies will use Endel’s proprietary AI technology to let UMG artists “reimagine” their music and create “science-backed soundscapes designed to enhance listeners’ wellness” using both new music and new versions of catalog music.
Berlin-based Endel runs a cross-platform “ecosystem” of AI-powered apps that produce personalized sounds to help people focus, relax, and sleep.
It uses personal inputs from the user’s movement, time of day, weather, heart rate, location, and other factors to produce personalized soundscapes.
As noted by MBW last month, Endel says its “ecosystem” of soundscapes already has over a million monthly users, who listen, cumulatively, to a million and a half hours a month of Endel’s sounds.
Last year, Endel raised $15 million from its series B funding round led by Roku investor Waverley Capital and True Ventures, an investor in Fitbit, Peloton, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Ring. It also has backing from the likes of Nearly four years ago, Endel teamed up with playlist partnership with Endel in February.
In the coming months, UMG will announce the first wave of soundscapes under the new agreement with Endel.
Endel has previously worked with
“We are excited to work together and utilize their patented AI technology to create new music soundscapes – anchored in our artist-centric philosophy.” Michael Nash, Universal Music Group “At UMG, we believe in the incredible potential of ethical AI as a tool to support and enhance the creativity of our artists, labels and songwriters, something that Endel has harnessed with impressive ingenuity and scientific innovation,” said Michael Nash, Universal Music Group’s EVP, Chief Digital Officer. “We are excited to work together and utilize their patented AI technology to create new music soundscapes – anchored in our artist-centric philosophy – that are designed to enhance audience wellness, powered by AI that respects artists’ rights in its development.” “It’s extremely exciting to see UMG embracing artist-driven AI. Endel allows music companies like UMG to draw on the astounding capabilities of AI and functional music while respecting their artists’ rights.” music industry news story from last month involving generative AI: that a track featuring AI-replicated Drake and the Weekend ‘vocals’ had gone viral, not only on social media, but also on music streaming platforms. It was subsequently deleted by these platforms. Both Drake and The Weeknd release their (real life) records via UMG and its Republic Records. On Universal Music Group’s quarterly Q1 2023 earnings call, UMG Chairman and CEO was asked whether UMG would one day consider licensing some of its sound recordings to a company like OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT), so that creators could use such a platform legally build new music based on “derivative” copyrights. “We’re open to, in terms of licensing, any business solution,” said Grainge. “Obviously [within that], you have to respect our artists and the integrity of their work. “My philosophy for this company has always been [that] we should be, and can be, ‘the hostess with the mostest’. “So yes, we’re open for business with [AI companies] which are legitimate, which are supportive, and [with] which we can create a partnership for growth.”Music Business Worldwide
