UMG and Warner ask New York court to dismiss musicians' union suit over Suno and Udio licences

Universal Music Group and Warner Records filed reply briefs on September 11 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, closing briefing on their motions to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the American Federation of Musicians.

The union sued in June and amended its complaint on July 24, alleging that the labels breached the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) by licensing recordings featuring its members to AI companies Suno and Udio without paying or crediting the musicians. Those allegations remain untested in court.

The dispute turns on Article 21(a) of the SRLA, which covers a "new use" of a recording. Both companies argue that at a July 21 conference the union's counsel accepted that no separate AFM agreement exists for AI use, and that the concession ends the case. Warner adds that the musicians were already paid SRLA base rates, and that fixing a new rate would place the court in a price-setting role.

Both labels want dismissal with prejudice. The union and the labels are meanwhile negotiating the next SRLA, with AI at the centre of the talks.