## Warner Music Acquires Sureel AI
Warner Music Music (WMG) announced on Wednesday that it’s acquiring AI attribution startup Sureel AI. Sureel’s patented technology creates “AI DNA” for songs and breaks them down into component parts to trace how AI models use those elements. Through the acquisition, WMG aims to better track when its artists’ and songwriters’ work is used in AI-generated content or for training AI models.

Source: _[Warner Music acquires AI attribution startup Sureel AI](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/10/warner-music-acquires-ai-attribution-startup-sureel-ai/)_

## Music Prediction Market
Prediction market apps like Kalshi and Polymarket have quickly become huge businesses. Now, you can stake your prediction money on anything – including events in the music industry. In 2026, there’s a huge market that has turned the data of the music industry into a febrile space of predictions.

Source: _[Music prediction is a $400m market in 2026 so far – on one platform](https://musically.com/2026/06/09/music-prediction-is-a-400m-market-in-2026-so-far-on-one-platform/)_

## Universal Music Group Sells Curve Royalty Systems
Universal Music Group and its subsidiary Virgin Music Group have agreed to sell Curve Royalty Systems to Jamen Capital and Merlin. This sale is required by the European Commission as a condition of clearing Universal Music Group‘s $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings.

Source: _[Universal sells Curve Royalty Systems to Merlin and Matt Spetzler’s Jamen Capital](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-sells-curve-royalty-systems-to-merlin-and-matt-spetzlers-jamen-capital/)_

## Sony Invests in Midnight Labs
Midnight Labs, an AI company focused on intellectual property protection in the entertainment industry, has secured an investment from Sony’s Innovation Fund to help combat piracy and deepfakes. The company has removed more than 2.8 billion pieces of infringement content.

Source: _[Sony Invests in AI Copyright-Protection Firm Midnight Labs](https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/ip-ai-firm-midnight-labs-sony-million-dollar-investment-1236766931/)_

## SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify Contract
SAG-AFTRA members have ratified a four-year contract with major studios. This contract includes new provisions on synthetic actors, allowing the use of AI performers only if they add significant additional value.

Source: _[SAG-AFTRA Members Approve Four-Year Deal With AI Terms and Pension Merger](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sag-aftra-ratification-ai-pension-merger-1236767288/)_

## mprs Expands into Catalog Acquisitions
mprs, focused on producer royalties, is expanding into producer catalog acquisitions. Milk & Honey has signed up to partner in this new acquisition vehicle.

Source: _[Producer royalty company mprs is now buying producer catalogs](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/mprs-producer-catalogs-milk-honey/)_

## Garth Brooks Considers Catalog Sale
Country music star Garth Brooks is eyeing a sale of his catalog, seeking around $2 billion for the rights to his songs and recordings.

Source: _[Garth Brooks Considers Sale of Music Catalog, Seeking Roughly $2 Billion](https://www.wsj.com/business/media/garth-brooks-considers-sale-of-music-catalog-seeking-roughly-2-billion-c80c2af2?st=PiEpbw&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink)_

## Suno Raises Funding
Suno CEO Mikey Shulman announced that the Series D funding round has more than doubled Suno's valuation to $5.4 billion.

Source: _[Suno raises over $400 million, pushing valuation to $5.4 billion](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/suno-raises-over-400-million-pushing-valuation-to-5-4-billion/)_

## OpenAI Revenue Model
OpenAI has no plans to share advertising revenue with publishers, according to its vice president of media partnerships.

Source: _[OpenAI not planning to share advertising revenue with publishers](https://pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/openai-not-planning-to-share-advertising-revenue-with-publishers/)_

## Library Organizations Urge Negotiations
Library organizations urge publishers to negotiate usage-based e-book lending models as well as perpetual-use options.

Source: _[Library Orgs Urge Big Five to Address Digital Pricing](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/100488-library-organizations-urge-big-five-to-address-digital-pricing.html)_