AI startup ElevenLabs, known for its voice-cloning technology, is stepping into the music game. The company officially unveiled Eleven Music, a new service that generates AI-made songs which can be used for commercial use.
Users can type in prompts like “a pop punk song with 2000s vibe and broken-hearted lyrics” and the tool spits out a track in minutes. According to The Wall Street Journal, the results are surprisingly polished.
ElevenLabs has been testing the platform with 20 undisclosed customers. These early users have reportedly used Eleven Music to create soundtracks for movies, TV shows, and even video games. While ElevenLabs hasn’t named names, the secrecy isn’t shocking as AI-generated content still sparks backlash.
To avoid legal trouble, ElevenLabs says it trained its model using licensed music. The company struck deals with digital rights agencies Kobalt Music Group and Merlin Network, which represent smaller labels. CEO Mati Staniszewski says he’s working to bring major music labels on board, too. That could give ElevenLabs an edge over rivals like Udio and Suno, which are facing lawsuits over alleged copyright violations.
ElevenLabs isn’t new to controversy. Its voice tech has been used for plenty of deepfakes, which managed to fool thousands (probably millions) of people on social media. Now, with Eleven Music, the company is betting that royalty-free AI tunes will be its next big hit.