ElevenLabs, a trailblazer in AI-driven audio technology, has taken a significant step forward with the launch of Eleven Music, a new AI music generation feature integrated into its platform.
This move marks another milestone in the company’s methodical journey to create a full-stack audio solution, expanding from voice cloning and text-to-speech to sound effects and now music generation. By strategically addressing copyright concerns through proactive partnerships with rightsholders, ElevenLabs is positioning itself as a responsible innovator in a contentious and rapidly evolving industry.
A Full-Stack Audio Vision
Founded in 2022 by Piotr Dabkowski and Mati Staniszewski, ElevenLabs first gained prominence for its industry-leading text-to-speech and voice cloning capabilities, which are used by millions of individuals and over 72% of Fortune 500 companies. The company has since expanded its offerings, adding conversational AI bots, multilingual speech translation, and sound effect generation.
With Eleven Music, ElevenLabs is now tackling music creation, allowing users to generate studio-quality tracks from simple text prompts in various genres and languages. This latest addition underscores the company’s ambition to become a one-stop shop for all things audio, catering to creators, businesses, and industries like film, gaming, and advertising.
The platform’s versatility is evident in its functionality. Users can input prompts like “create a smooth jazz song with a ’60s vibe” and receive a complete track with vocals and instrumentation in minutes. The system also offers customization options, allowing adjustments to tempo, vocal style, and song structure.
While the technology is impressive, early feedback suggests the quality of the generated music is mixed—promising but not yet on par with leading competitors like Suno. For a first release, however, it’s a strong start, particularly for practical applications like crafting jingles for commercials or background music for videos.
A Strategic Approach to Copyright
What sets Eleven Music apart from competitors is its proactive approach to copyright and licensing. Unlike Suno and Udio, which are currently embroiled in lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for allegedly training their AI models on copyrighted music without permission, ElevenLabs has taken a “license-first” strategy.
The company secured partnerships with Merlin Network, a digital rights agency representing independent labels, and Kobalt Music Group, a major music publisher, before developing Eleven Music. Additionally, a deal with SourceAudio provides access to 14 million pre-cleared songs for ethical AI training.
This foresight is particularly significant in light of the RIAA’s lawsuits against Suno and Udio in June 2024, which allege “mass copyright infringement” and seek damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work—potentially totaling billions. The RIAA, representing major labels like Sony, Universal, and Warner, has accused these platforms of scraping copyrighted material to train their models, a practice that has sparked heated debates about fair use and intellectual property in AI development. Suno and Udio have defended their approach, arguing that their models generate transformative outputs rather than reproducing existing works, but the legal battles have cast uncertainty over their futures.
ElevenLabs, by contrast, has built “legal cover for broad commercial use,” as stated by CEO Mati Staniszewski. The platform includes guardrails to prevent users from generating songs with specific artist names or copyrighted lyrics, ensuring compliance with intellectual property laws. Laurent Hubert, CEO of Kobalt, praised ElevenLabs as a “collaborative partner, committed to sourcing data directly from rightsholders and protecting them.” This approach not only mitigates legal risks but also sets a precedent for responsible AI development, potentially paving the way for a more collaborative relationship between tech companies and the music industry.
Quality and Applications: A Work in Progress
While Eleven Music’s technical capabilities are impressive, the quality of its output has received mixed reviews. Demonstrations, such as a synthetic rap track evoking themes of ambition and personal struggle, showcase the platform’s potential but also highlight its limitations. Some critics note that the generated music, while technically proficient, lacks the emotional depth and nuance of human-composed works.
Comparisons to Suno and Udio, which have faced their own challenges in delivering consistently high-quality results, suggest that Eleven Music is not yet a market leader in terms of creative output.
However, ElevenLabs isn’t necessarily aiming to outshine competitors like Suno immediately. Instead, the platform appears tailored for practical, commercial applications. For instance, generating a catchy jingle for a pre-voiced advertisement or background music for a podcast is well within Eleven Music’s capabilities. The platform’s integration with ElevenLabs’ existing voice synthesis tools makes it particularly appealing for creators seeking a seamless workflow for producing cohesive audio content.
Early access has been granted to 20 customers across industries like film, TV, gaming, and fitness apps, signaling strong potential for enterprise adoption.
The Bigger Picture
Eleven Music’s launch comes at a pivotal moment for the music industry, which is grappling with the opportunities and challenges of generative AI. While AI music generation democratizes creativity, enabling anyone to produce professional-grade tracks without extensive resources, it also raises ethical questions about the role of human artistry.
Critics argue that AI-generated music risks flooding the market with derivative content, potentially devaluing the work of human artists. ElevenLabs addresses these concerns by emphasizing ethical licensing and artist compensation, but the absence of deals with major labels like Universal, Sony, and Warner limits its access to mainstream music catalogs.
Looking ahead, ElevenLabs plans to release Eleven Music Pro, a premium version featuring higher-quality source material from Kobalt and Merlin’s artists and songwriters. The company is also developing a public API and integrating Eleven Music with its conversational AI platform, further expanding its utility. With a $3.3 billion valuation following a $180 million Series C round in January 2025, ElevenLabs is well-positioned to lead the AI audio space, provided it can navigate the complex interplay of technology, creativity, and legality.
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Conclusion
ElevenLabs’ launch of Eleven Music is a bold step toward redefining the audio creation landscape. By building a comprehensive audio stack that spans voice, sound effects, and now music, the company is carving out a unique position in the AI industry. Its proactive licensing strategy sets it apart from competitors like Suno and Udio, offering a model for ethical AI development that could reshape industry standards.
While the quality of its music generation may not yet rival established players, Eleven Music’s practical applications and legal foresight make it a compelling addition to the creative toolkit. As the music industry continues to evolve, ElevenLabs is poised to play a central role in balancing innovation with respect for artistic rights.
