Suno launches v6 AI music models trained on licensed songs, as copyright lawsuits keep coming
The startup says its new model family uses only data licensed from record labels. That's a first for Suno, but legal trouble from Sony, Universal and others is far from over.
Key points
- Suno launched three AI music-generation models on Wednesday under the name Suno v6.
- Unlike earlier Suno models, the company says v6 was trained exclusively on music licensed from partners including Warner Music Group and BMG.
- Suno settled copyright suits with Warner Music Group and BMG before this release but still faces active lawsuits from Sony, Universal Music Group and individual artists.
- The company acknowledged the day before this announcement that it had trained previous models on YouTube videos.
- Suno has raised over $819 million in total funding, according to PitchBook.
Suno, the startup that lets people type a text prompt and get back a finished song, has replaced its entire lineup of AI music models. The new family is called Suno v6, and the company says every piece of training data behind it came from licensed deals with labels and distributors, including Warner Music Group, BMG and Believe.
That's a real shift. Suno's older models landed the company in court, with record labels accusing it of training on copyrighted recordings without permission. Settlements with Warner Music Group and BMG cleared two fronts. The v6 models, the company says, start clean.
What are the three new models, and who can use them?
Three versions cover different needs. The base Suno v6, for paying subscribers, is built for reliable output. Suno v6 Wild, also for paid users, is an experimental version designed for unexpected results when you're exploring ideas rather than finishing a track. Suno v6 Mini is faster and lighter, free to all users. Older Suno models will be retired.
| Model | Who can use it | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Suno v6 | Paying subscribers | Controlled, reliable output |
| Suno v6 Wild | Paying subscribers | Creative exploration |
| Suno v6 Mini | All users (free) | Fast generation |
The new models let you edit a specific section of a song using a prompt or a lyric change, isolate a single instrument from a sample and build a new beat around it, and use an image or short video as a creative starting point. That last feature matters for creators who find text prompts limiting.
What does this mean for artists and rights holders?
Suno isn't just making peace through settlements. It's building a revenue-sharing layer into the platform itself. A new opt-in programme would allow artists, working through their labels, to let Suno use their songs as the basis for AI-generated remixes. Artists who join would share in revenue from those derivative tracks.
Chief product officer Jack Brody told TechCrunch that generating new income for rights holders is central to this release. "The music ecosystem and our partners are always looking for ways to create more revenue opportunities," he said. "A big part of this release is creating additional revenue streams there."
We've tracked the tension between major labels and AI companies since our 25 August report on Stability AI's fundraise from Universal, Sony and Warner, when those same labels decided backing an AI firm was preferable to fighting it. Suno's approach looks like the next stage of that logic: if you can't beat the labels in court, cut them in on the product.
Should users be worried about the legal picture?
Active suits from Sony and Universal Music Group remain open, as does a case brought by singer-songwriter Jason Isbell and a separate suit from users who allege Suno prioritised growth over security. None of those are settled.
The day before Wednesday's launch, Suno also acknowledged it had trained earlier models on YouTube videos. That admission adds scrutiny to its past practices precisely when it's trying to turn a page on them.
For ordinary users the practical picture is simpler: the new models are live now, the free Mini tier costs nothing, and the watermarking system Suno announced last month is still on its way to help identify AI-generated tracks.
Common questions
Do I have to pay to use the new Suno v6 models?
Suno v6 Mini is free for all users. The full Suno v6 and the experimental Suno v6 Wild require a paid subscription.
What is a licensed training dataset, and why does it matter?
A licensed dataset means Suno paid for or negotiated permission to use the music in building its AI, rather than using it without consent. That distinction is the core of the lawsuits still pending against the company.
Can my favourite artist's music be used to generate remixes?
Only if the artist explicitly opts in to Suno's new programme. It isn't live yet, and participation is voluntary through the artist's label or distributor.
