{"text":[[{"start":7.604,"text":"Spotify is targeting an early 2027 launch for a new AI-powered service that will let listeners create their own remixes and covers of songs, as it negotiates licensing deals and tries to persuade artists to embrace the technology."}],[{"start":22.24,"text":"The streaming group is aiming to launch the product in the first quarter of next year, with a potential unveiling around the Grammy Awards in February, according to people familiar with the plans. Spotify is considering charging subscribers an additional $4 to $5 a month for the service, one of those people said."}],[{"start":39.28,"text":"The product would allow Spotify’s paying subscribers to use AI to create their own versions of popular songs, such as transforming a folk song into a dance track or making one artist appear to cover another’s music."}],[{"start":52.01,"text":"The timing and pricing have not been finalised and remain subject to change, the people cautioned. Spotify declined to comment."}],[{"start":59.52,"text":"Spotify is still negotiating licensing agreements that would allow it to implement the feature with Sony Music and Warner Music. The company has already struck deals with Universal Music Group, the independent label licensing group Merlin and French music company Believe."}],[{"start":75.04,"text":"The launch is a significant test of whether the music industry can turn generative AI into a new source of revenue, even as the technology has provoked resistance from some artists."}],[{"start":85.6,"text":"Spotify and Universal, the world’s largest record company, have been holding meetings with individual artists to persuade them to make their music available for the service, according to people familiar with the discussions."}],[{"start":99.28,"text":"Winning over major contemporary stars has proved more challenging than securing participation from some established older artists, one person with knowledge of the matter said. Artists will be able to choose whether to participate, even if their record labels have signed licensing agreements with Spotify."}],[{"start":114.16,"text":"In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter this month, Olivia Rodrigo, who is signed to Universal, was emphatic about her opposition to using AI in her music. “I would never,” she said. “Absolutely no. Hard line on that.”"}],[{"start":127.68,"text":"Spotify announced the product in May but has since declined to provide further details. In August, co-chief executive Gustav Söderström told investors that the company would launch the service when it was ready."}],[{"start":140.171,"text":"The product is part of Spotify’s broader push to extract more revenue from its subscribers. The company has been developing new products aimed at the most devoted fans, such as concert tickets before they go on sale to wider audiences, and expanded audiobook access."}],[{"start":155.277,"text":"Spotify has told investors it expects “mid-teens” annual revenue growth through 2030, raising questions about how it will sustain that pace."}],[{"start":164.903,"text":"Ian Moore, an analyst at Bernstein, estimates that 7 to 8 per cent of Spotify’s US subscribers could sign up for the AI service by the end of 2028. He said new paid add-ons could help Spotify meet its revenue growth ambitions."}],[{"start":178.8,"text":"The service would differ from AI music generators such as Suno, which allow users to create entirely new songs from text prompts. In comparison, Spotify’s product would let fans manipulate existing songs by artists who have agreed to participate."}],[{"start":194.292,"text":"Under the proposed plan, royalty money from fan-created remixes would flow back to the original artists. Spotify is also developing a system for remixes to appear in playlists, with plays counting towards the original songs in Spotify’s music charts, said people familiar with the plans."}],[{"start":210.72,"text":"At a September investor conference, Söderström argued older artists should join the AI service to make more money."}],[{"start":217.632,"text":"“If you’re an artist today from the ‘80s or ‘90s, the way that you would make more money today is to hope that some other artists would create a remix or cover of your song. Now, you can hope that your fans actually create remixes and covers of your songs.”"}],[{"start":231.04,"text":"“If one of your fans creates the remix of your song, that actually increases the share of the streaming [revenue] pool that you get,” he said."}],[{"start":240.96,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1793341397_7378.mp3"}