Spotify Targets Early 2027 for Paid AI Remix Feature, Seeks Sony and Warner Licenses

SPOT is reportedly preparing an AI-based service that would let subscribers create remixes and covers of songs with a click, such as turning a folk song into a dance track or making one artist appear to cover another, according to the Financial Times as reported by PCMag. The company is targeting an early 2027 launch and plans to add $4 to $5 a month to the service, according to one FT source, though pricing and timing are still up in the air.

Licensing is the gating item. Spotify has struck deals with Universal Music Group, the independent licensing group Merlin and French music company Believe, and is negotiating with Sony Music and Warner Music. Artists would reportedly receive royalties when users remix their songs, remixes could appear in playlists and count toward streaming royalties, and musicians would be able to veto use of their music regardless of label agreements.

Spotify is reportedly finding it challenging to win over major contemporary stars, while some established older artists have been more willing to take part. The plan builds on tools such as Suno and Udio, which have lowered the barrier to making music but faced legal battles, and follows Spotify's August move to label AI personas and stop recommending their music.

For investors, the feature is a potential new paid tier on top of subscriptions. What to watch: whether Sony and Warner sign, how many current stars opt in, and the final price when the product launches.