Photo by Rashed Paykary
Based on initial reporting by Music Business Worldwide
Michael Nash, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Universal Music Group (UMG), delivered a keynote at the United Nations’ AI for Good Summit in Geneva on July 8, where he outlined UMG’s stance on artificial intelligence and its broader implications for the music industry.
Addressing over 13,000 registered delegates, Nash argued that copyright should be seen as a driver, not an obstacle, to innovation, referencing the Apple/iTunes model as a blueprint. He stated, “Copyright is not the enemy of innovation, quite the opposite,” emphasising that market-based solutions rooted in artist rights can successfully guide AI’s integration in music.
Nash underscored UMG’s artist-first philosophy in approaching AI: “Universal’s strategy is simple – centre the conversation on artists, defend their rights, and forge new creative and commercial opportunities.” He warned against models that sideline rights holders, adding: “You can’t forge new business models with no rights. If you don’t claim a seat at the dinner table, you might wind up on the menu.”
The keynote also showcased three UMG AI-powered projects:
- The Beatles’ ‘Now and Then’, which used AI to isolate John Lennon’s voice from an old cassette, later earning a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.
- A wellness-focused Sound Therapy collaboration with Apple Music, integrating Gen AI into remixes for artists like Katy Perry and Imagine Dragons.
- An upcoming Keith Urban video, created with ethically developed tools from Moon Valley Gen AI.
Nash also addressed the recent rise of AI-generated acts such as The Velvet Sundown, describing their popularity as inflated by novelty and press. “They have 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify,” he said, “but that wouldn’t place them in the top 10,000 artists.”
He cited internal UMG research showing that while roughly half of listeners are open to AI’s role in music – mainly for discovery and personalization – 70–75% of those surveyed say real artists remain most important. “It’s the story, the identity, the emotional connection,” Nash concluded. “That’s what endures.”
