ElevenLabs has officially launched Eleven Music, a generative AI model capable of producing studio-grade music from natural language prompts, and claims the output is cleared for commercial use. This marks a significant expansion for the company, which previously focused on voice synthesis and multilingual speech tools. The new model allows users to generate full tracks—instrumental or vocal—in various genres and styles, with durations ranging from 10 seconds to 5 minutes.
What sets Eleven Music apart is its licensing strategy. To avoid the legal pitfalls that have plagued competitors like Suno and Udio—both of which faced lawsuits from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) over alleged unauthorized training on copyrighted material—ElevenLabs has secured deals with Merlin Network and Kobalt Music Group. These partnerships provide access to catalogs of independent artists, though it remains unclear whether major artists represented by these platforms have opted in for training data inclusion.
The company showcased samples of AI-generated music, including a rap track featuring a synthetic voice narrating a journey “from Compton to the Cosmos.” While technically impressive, such examples raise questions about cultural authenticity and the ethical boundaries of AI-generated art. Critics argue that emulating lived experiences through synthetic voices risks trivializing the narratives of real artists.
Despite these concerns, ElevenLabs is positioning Eleven Music as a tool for creators across industries—from advertising and gaming to film and podcasting. The platform offers granular control over genre, structure, and even lyrical content, with support for multiple languages. An API is expected soon, enabling integration into broader creative workflows.
As generative music tools continue to evolve, ElevenLabs’ emphasis on licensing and commercial viability may give it an edge in a rapidly growing but legally complex market. Whether this approach will satisfy artists and regulators remains to be seen, but the launch signals a new phase in the intersection of AI and music production.
