Sony Music Leads $16M Investment in AI Licensing Platform Vermillio, Eyes Commercial Innovation
Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has led a $16 million Series A funding round for Vermillio, an AI licensing and monetization platform, with additional investment from DNS Capital. The funding aims to advance AI-powered content protection and commercial opportunities in the music industry.
Vermillio's flagship product, TraceID, helps rightsholders identify, license, and monitor generative AI content that uses their protected works. The platform has already demonstrated success through collaborations with major entertainment companies:
- Partnered with Sony Music on David Gilmour's AI-enhanced Metallic Spheres In Colour project
- Tracked 1.5 million fan creations for a Sony Pictures Spider-Man AI-animation campaign
- Launched a customized merchandise campaign with Pocket.watch for Ryan's World
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Dennis Kooker, SME president of global digital business, emphasized the company's commitment to protecting intellectual property while exploring new commercial opportunities in AI. The partnership aims to develop secure AI solutions that benefit technology innovators, artists, and rightsholders while ensuring proper consent, attribution, and compensation.
This investment follows similar industry movements, including Universal Music Group's partnership with content-attribution company ProRata.ai, which recently secured a $25 million Series A funding round and is developing an AI search engine called Gist, scheduled for full release in 2025.
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