“At the turn of the millennium, the music industry reckoned with vast technological change, as listeners began illegally downloading the records they once visited stores to purchase,” wrote Rachel Brodsky for TIME. “A similar threat looms today around generative AI, which many artists and industry workers worry will devalue the output of human-made music, among other copyright concerns.
“Warner Music Group—which owns a robust portfolio of labels, including Atlantic, Parlophone, and Warner Records, plus the publishing arm Warner Chappell Music—aims to learn from the past. Instead of boycotting the new tech, CEO Robert Kyncl says WMG is on a mission to shape it.”
“AI is a fast-growing phenomenon,” said Kyncl. “It's really important that companies like us stand up for artists and songwriters—do it early, and do it together with AI companies.”
In assembling the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, TIME solicited nominations from various sectors and polled its global network of contributors and correspondents, along with outside experts. TIME editors then evaluated each company on factors including impact, innovation, ambition and success, resulting in a diverse list consisting of 105 businesses.
