Sony Music Sues Udio Over 30,000 Songs, Seeking Up to $150,000 Per Work
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Jul 20
Sony Music Sues Udio Over 30,000 Songs, Seeking Up to $150,000 Per Work
3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Jul 20
Summary
Sony filed a new New York lawsuit Monday accusing Udio of infringing more than 30,000 songs, far beyond the 333 works covered in its earlier case.
Discovery of Udio’s training data led Sony to identify the additional tracks through audio fingerprinting, and the company says the list is only a small portion of the works allegedly copied and ingested.
Sony is seeking an injunction to stop further infringement and damages of up to $150,000 per work, citing songs spanning Elvis Presley, Beyoncé and Harry Styles.
The new case follows a 2024 lawsuit by Sony, Universal and Warner against Udio and Suno; Universal and Warner have since settled with Udio and moved into AI partnerships.
Can AI music survive if lawsuits force companies like Udio to license every song used for training?
As other labels partner with AI, is Sony's lawsuit about protecting artists or simply controlling the future of music?
Sony vs. Udio: The 30,117-Work Lawsuit That Will Decide AI Music’s Legal Future
Overview
As of July 2026, the legal fight between major record labels and AI music platforms is intensifying. Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment are suing Suno and Udio after fingerprinting technology revealed these AI platforms used millions of their recordings for training. This discovery led to an expanded complaint, making the case even bigger. The main issue is whether using copyrighted music to train AI counts as fair use. Both sides are expected to file motions for summary judgment, and the court’s decision could set a major precedent for how AI music companies operate in the future.