Sony Music Sues AI Generator Udio Over 30,000 Songs

Sony Music Entertainment and nine affiliated labels filed a lawsuit against AI music generator Udio in the Southern District of New York on July 20, 2026. The complaint alleges that Udio illegally copied 30,117 sound recordings, including works by Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, and Harry Styles, to train its generative AI models.

Sony claims that Udio used stream-ripping tools such as YT-DLP to bypass YouTube's protections to acquire the audio. The music label asserts that it discovered the full extent of the copying after gaining access to Udio's source code and training data during the discovery process of a previous 2024 lawsuit. While a judge rejected Sony's June 29 motion to add these songs to the original case, the court noted the company could seek damages through a separate action.

Udio argues that using copyrighted material for AI training constitutes fair use. However, Sony contends that Udio's current licensing agreements with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group—both of whom originally sued Udio before settling—undermine this defense. Sony is seeking a jury trial and statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed recording.