American Federation of Musicians Escalates AI Pay Dispute with Major Record Labels

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has intensified its campaign against major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony, Warner, and Disney's Hollywood Records, demanding consent and compensation for musicians whose recordings are used to train AI systems. The union launched its "Human Made, Human Paid" initiative ahead of upcoming contract negotiations, seeking stronger protections and clear credit for performers in AI-generated music. This follows a federal lawsuit filed by AFM against Universal and Warner-affiliated labels in June 2026.