Disney Music Group (DMG) has partnered with artificial intelligence music startup AudioShake to open up its catalog to “new creative and marketing opportunities.”
AudioShake uses AI to deconstruct music tracks into spines that can be used for mixing, sampling, and other applications. This technique can be used to separate vocals or dialogue from instruments, for example, in older recordings where multiple audio tracks cannot be used.
The startup raised $2.7 million in a seed round last May, bringing its total funding to date to more than $5 million.
According to DMG, its catalog includes “Mickey Mouse’s earliest recordings, all the way to contemporary classics in a variety of genres.”
However, the company noted that many early recordings did not have their component parts (also known as “stems”), which limited their use in sync licensing, remastering, and emerging formats such as immersive audio and lyric video.
Under the new deal with AudioShake, DMG will expand use of the startup’s instrument stem separation technology to open up these new uses for stem-less recordings.
AudioShake is a participant in the 2024 Disney Accelerator Business Development Program, a program designed to accelerate the growth of innovative companies.
The deal will also give DMG access to AudioShake’s automated lyric transcription tool, which Disney Music Group said will “enhance metadata for its catalog and leverage more powerful synchronized search, as well as expand formats such as lyric videos.”
“We are impressed with AudioShake’s sound separation technology and are one of its early adopters.”
David Abdo, Disney Music Group
“We are impressed with AudioShake’s sound separation technology and are one of its early adopters,” said David Abdo, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Music Group.
“We are excited to expand our existing backbone separation efforts and integrate AudioShake’s lyric transcription system. AudioShake is a great example of cutting-edge technology that can benefit our artists and songwriters, and the team at AudioShake has been excellent to work with partner.
“Stems and lyrics are important assets that labels and artists can use to unlock new musical experiences in recording.”
Jessica Powell, AudioShake
“Stems and lyrics are important assets that labels and artists can use to unlock new musical experiences in recording,” said Jessica Powell, CEO of AudioShake.
“We are excited to deepen our relationship with Disney Music Group and honored to work with their extensive and iconic catalog.”global music business
