Music generation
High-fidelity song generation with strong vocal control, now rebuilding as a label-licensed platform.
Udio built its reputation on vocal realism and fine control over song sections, and for a stretch it was Suno's closest rival. In 2025 it settled with Universal Music Group and struck a deal with Warner, and it's now reshaping itself into a licensed creation platform where artist permissions are built into the product. The practical consequence for creators is big: downloads of audio, video and stems were switched off as part of the UMG changes, so tracks live inside Udio and are shared by link rather than exported. That makes it better today for experimenting and sharing than for releasing music elsewhere. Anyone planning commercial use should check the current terms first, since rights have been in flux.
Looking to make music with AI — for free? Here are our favorite platforms that let you generate full songs, vocals, or instrumentals without paying a dime. From the names you know to those you don’t, these tools prove you don’t need a studio to sound pro.
Suno and Udio are the ‘Big Two’ of AI Music. How do you pick which one to use? We look at the differences across the board so you can make the best choice.
Not all “AI music” is the same. Some tools write full songs, others just remix, master, or clone voices. Here’s how to tell which ones truly use AI — and which just sound like they do.
Creating your first AI song is easier than you think. Choose a platform, type a prompt, refine your track, and publish it to the community. In just minutes, you can export professional-sounding audio, grab your shareable link, and let the world hear your music.
Sony Music became the first music company in ARIAM, a cross-industry AI policy coalition, giving its licensing-first stance a wider coalition just five days after suing Suno a second time.
GRAI says it will keep and expand the partnerships Hangout built with labels, publishers and collecting societies, and fold Hangout's social listening work into its own streaming service — which has not launched yet.
Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs announced a multi-year licensing agreement and strategic collaboration Wednesday
Suno announced a global partnership with Believe and its self-releasing platform TuneCore on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Amanda Magellan didn't think she was going to win SSC8 . Her aspirations only reached as high as reaching the finals (the Top 40).
Kevin Griffin had just stepped off a Grammy panel in Nashville — the topic, as it so often is now, was AI and songwriting — when Zinstrel caught up with him.
