August 5, 2025 • News
Generative AI has rapidly transformed creative industries in recent years. Tools like ChatGPT popularized advanced text generation, and image models have produced lifelike art. Now, AI technology is venturing into music. ElevenLabs, known for its realistic voice synthesis, has launched a new tool called "Eleven Music," a tool that uses artificial intelligence to compose songs on demand. According to the company, the AI-generated music is safe for commercial use, meaning creators may use the songs in their projects without copyright concerns. This expansion shows how generative AI is moving beyond text and images into the realm of music production.
ElevenLabs is a startup best known for its AI-driven voice synthesis and text-to-speech tools. Over the past few years, the company gained a reputation for creating highly realistic AI voices. On August 5, 2025, ElevenLabs announced "Eleven Music," its new AI-powered music generation platform. This tool allows users to type lyrics or prompts and receive a fully composed music track, complete with melody and synthetic vocals. Unlike typical music generators, Eleven Music focuses on creating songs that sound more human-like, using the same audio synthesis techniques the company developed for speech. The platform is said to support multiple musical styles and genres, from rap and pop to rock and electronic, giving creators a versatile new way to produce original music.
Alongside the launch, ElevenLabs shared sample songs generated by the AI. For example, one demo featured a computer-generated voice rapping about ambition and life on the streets. The synthetic vocals sounded surprisingly polished, echoing stylistic elements of well-known artists. However, hearing an AI mimic familiar musical styles also highlights how the line between inspiration and imitation is being tested. ElevenLabs claims that every note and lyric in these songs are original creations by the AI and not copies of any particular human artist. This announcement underscores the technical progress in AI music composition and raises intriguing questions about creativity.
A major challenge for AI music tools is copyright. Last year, the music industry took legal action against several AI startups, alleging their models were trained on copyrighted songs without permission. ElevenLabs took a proactive approach. The company announced partnerships with music industry organizations to license content for training. Notably, it struck deals with the Merlin Network and the Kobalt Music Group, two organizations that represent large catalogs of songs. These agreements mean Eleven Music will be trained only on licensed music from those catalogs, and that any artists included in the training have opted in. According to ElevenLabs, these arrangements provide new revenue streams for artists and safeguards for their creations. The company emphasized that with these licenses in place, users can monetize the AI-generated songs without fear of infringement.
For content creators, an AI music generator could be a game-changer. Podcasters, filmmakers, and game developers often need original music but may lack the resources to hire composers or license tracks. With Eleven Music, they can quickly generate custom background tracks or songs by simply providing prompts and receiving instant audio output to refine or use in projects. This democratizes music production in the same way AI writing tools made content creation easier. Creators can experiment with different lyrics, genres, or moods to meet their needs.
However, the advent of AI-generated music also raises questions and concerns. Professional musicians and industry experts worry about the impact on creative jobs and originality. If AI can produce songs that sound like human-made music, debates may emerge about credit and copyright. Over time, regulators and the industry might need to adjust licensing rules to account for these new tools. ElevenLabs’ strategy of licensing content upfront is designed to mitigate some of these issues, but the real-world effect will depend on how listeners respond and how laws and industry practices evolve.
Advanced hardware underpins AI advances like this. Large language and audio models require powerful GPUs (graphics processing units) to train and run efficiently. For example, NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell-based GPUs deliver significant speedups for AI tasks compared to older chips. These new GPUs, used in professional workstations, have specialized cores for deep learning and more memory to handle complex models. As a result, they can process audio-generation models like Eleven Music faster and at higher quality. This means developers and creators can experiment with sophisticated AI music tools without waiting hours for each track.
ElevenLabs’ launch of an AI music generator illustrates how quickly generative AI is evolving. If the company’s licensing approach works as intended, it could set a precedent for balancing innovation with copyright protection. The technology’s ultimate impact will depend on audience acceptance, industry response, and regulatory guidance. For now, content creators have a powerful new tool, while musicians and legal experts will watch closely. We will continue to follow this story and the broader trends in AI-driven creativity.
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