Connect with us

Technology

SoundLabs and Universal Music Group announce strategic agreement to offer responsibly trained AI technology and vocal modeling plug-in MicDrop to UMG artists

Published

on

SoundLabs is an artist-founded AI technology company, focused on creating responsibly trained generative AI tools for the next generation of music makers

MicDrop is a cutting-edge vocal plug-in, that will allow artists to change their voice into any voice in real time

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — SoundLabs, An innovative new AI technology company offering responsibly trained, next-generation AI tools for music creators, and Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced a strategic agreement that will enable UMG’s global family of artists and producers to use SoundLabs MicDrop, a cutting-edge AI vocal plug-in, to create official ultra-high fidelity vocal models for artists using their own voice data for training while retaining control over ownership and giving them full artistic approval and control of the output.

Launching this summer, MicDrop is a real-time (AU, VST3, AAX) plug-in compatible with all major DAWs. It empowers artists and producers to explore bleeding-edge vocal transformations, including voice-to-voice, voice-to-instrument, speech-to-singing, language transposition, and a myriad of previously impossible vocal transformations. Together, UMG and SoundLabs are collaborating to allow UMG artists to create custom vocal models that will be available for their exclusive creative use cases, and not available to the general public.

SoundLabs was founded by Grammy-nominated producer, composer, software developer, and electronic artist BT. With a career spanning over 25+ years, BT has released, produced, and remixed platinum and award-winning music for A-list artists including David Bowie, Madonna, Sting, Death Cab for Cutie, Peter Gabriel, and Seal. He has also scored #1 box office and Oscar-winning films such as Monster and The Fast and the Furious. As a software developer, BT has revolutionized music creation tools and pioneered new techniques that are heard in albums, scores, and trailers daily. He has patented and developed award-winning audio plugins like Stutter Edit, BreakTweaker (iZotope), Polaris, and Phobos (Spitfire Audio), among many others, which are used by countless audio professionals. His software products have generated over $70 million USD in gross sales.

SoundLabs founding team also includes award-winning, veteran software developers Joshua Dickinson and Dr. Michael Hetrick of Unfiltered Audio, a brand known for redefining the limits of typical creative audio tools. Joining SoundLabs, they expand this pursuit into the realm of AI where they continue to explore the augmentation of human creative potential.  

MicDrop is the first in a suite of interoperable AI tools and services developed by SoundLabs for sound design and music generation. It gives artists new “music super-powers” and completely reimagines how music is made, enabling them to expand what is possible.

SoundLabs’ goal is to place powerful new compositional tools at artists’ fingertips, while supporting proper management of their intellectual property. SoundLabs was founded with a foundational respect for intellectual property rights and is focused on helping artists retain creative control over their data and models.

SoundLabs founder BT said, “It’s a tremendous honor to be working with the forward-thinking and creatively aligned Universal Music Group. We believe the future of music creation is decidedly human. Artificial intelligence, when used ethically and trained consensually, has the promethean ability to unlock unimaginable new creative insights, diminish friction in the creative process and democratize creativity for artists, fans, and creators of all stripes. We are designing tools not to replace human artists, but to amplify human creativity.”

Chris Horton, SVP, Strategic Technology at Universal Music said, “UMG strives to keep artists at the center of our AI strategy, so that technology is used in service of artistry, rather than the other way around.  We are thrilled to be working with SoundLabs and BT, who has a deep and personal understanding of both the technical and ethical issues related to AI. Through direct experience as a singer and in partnership with many vocal collaborators, BT understands how performers view and value their voices, and SoundLabs will allow UMG artists to push creative boundaries using voice-to-voice AI to sing in languages they don’t speak, perform duets with their younger selves, restore imperfect vocal recordings, and more.”

UMG has long recognized and embraced the potential of AI to enhance and amplify human creativity, advance musical innovation, and expand the realms of audio production and sound technology with responsible and ethical applications that respect copyright. Recently, UMG and Roland published the Principles for Music Creation with AI (aiformusic.info), a series of clarifying statements relating to the responsible use of AI in music creation and advocating for their adoption across the music industry and creative community. The principles highlight the opportunity for innovation with AI in music production, composition, and songwriting while underscoring the need for transparency, equity, and community involvement. SoundLabs is pleased to have signed on in support of these shared principles.

About SoundLabs
SoundLabs is a cutting-edge music production and software company founded by BT, Joshua Dickinson, Dr. Michael Hetrick and Lacy Transeau. With deep roots in the music industry, SoundLabs is poised to revolutionize music production with its next generation tools. This deeply dedicated team of veteran musicians and developers brings unparalleled expertise, having created award-winning plugins, groundbreaking albums, blockbuster film scores, and top-selling sound libraries. Blending human creativity with the vast power of AI, SoundLabs crafts intuitive, inspiring, and ethical tools that transform imagination into reality, redefining what is possible in music production. For more information, visit soundlabs.ai

About Universal Music Group
At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms, and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information on Universal Music Group, please visit universalmusic.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soundlabs-and-universal-music-group-announce-strategic-agreement-to-offer-responsibly-trained-ai-technology-and-vocal-modeling-plug-in-micdrop-to-umg-artists-302175739.html

SOURCE Universal Music Group

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Madhive Enhances Data Partnership with Datonics, the Industry’s First Certified CarbonNeutral® Data Provider

Published

on

By

Over 1,000 Datonics data segments are now live within Madhive’s Data Marketplace, giving buyers even more ability to reach desired audiences across local CTV

NEW YORK, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Audience data company and the industry’s first CarbonNeutral® data provider Datonics, has expanded its partnership with Madhive, the only unified operating system for local media, to help advertisers more effectively target and reach audiences across local CTV. Buyers can now access over 1,000 Datonics audience segments directly within Madhive’s data marketplace, including niche personas, commerce behaviors, lifestyle interests, and more—enhancing precision targeting across local CTV campaigns.

“By extending the availability of our data through Madhive’s platform, we are partnering with a leader in local CTV and helping businesses to reach customers through this growing channel,” said Michael Benedek.

“Local advertisers need every dollar to work harder—and that starts with precision. At Madhive, we’re committed to empowering local TV advertisers with smarter, more efficient ways to reach their audiences. By deepening our partnership with Datonics, we’re bringing advanced targeting to our platform, enabling all advertisers to connect with the right consumers at the right time. Datonics’ granular, high-quality data and shared commitment to sustainability make them a natural fit as we help modernize local advertising for a more effective and responsible future,” said Luc Dumont, SVP of Business Development at Madhive.

These new segments are the latest addition to Madhive’s Data Marketplace, which enables advertisers to connect directly with curated audience segments, including behavioral, demographic, and transactional data, and more. Through partnerships with top-tier data providers, the marketplace offers high-quality audiences at efficient costs, leading to higher match rates and broader reach for marketers. With access to nearly every CTV household, the marketplace enables hyperlocal targeting down to the zip code and congressional district level.

Datonics recently became the first audience data company to be certified as a CarbonNeutral® Enterprise. Datonics has invested in verified carbon removal, avoidance and reduction projects with Climate Impact Partners and followed the CarbonNeutral® Protocol. To further its commitment to sustainability, Datonics is also a member of The Climate Registry, a global non-profit organization that provides public and private companies with a publicly accessible registry of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) data. Datonics is also a supporter of the US chapter of Ad Net Zero, an organization devoted to helping companies reduce the carbon emissions from advertising operations.

“The local CTV market presents a lot of opportunity to advertisers – both local and national. By extending the availability of our data through Madhive’s platform, we are partnering with a leader in local CTV and helping businesses to reach customers through this growing channel. Our focus on sustainability provides an added benefit of reducing the overall carbon footprint of advertising initiatives,” said Michael Benedek, CEO, Datonics. “Through our expanded partnership, we hope that advertisers are able to experience better results with their campaigns by reaching precisely those audiences that are right for their products and services.”

About Datonics:

Datonics is an Audience Data company that has aggregated and curated the most accurate, robust and comprehensive data set comprising online, offline, and mobile activity. Agencies and their client brands use the Datonics Audience Targeting Segments & Audience Insights (TM) / CRM Enrichment suite to understand, engage with, acquire and retain their target customers – planning, activating, and targeting media campaigns across programmatic display, mobile, streaming audio, CTV and DOOH. Datonics is a member and former board member of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), a member of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the Leadership Council of the Ad Council. Datonics is a sustainability leader, member of Ad Net Zero, and recognized as the first certified CarbonNeutral® Audience Data company.

About Madhive

Madhive is the only unified operating system built to empower local media companies to scale their advertising businesses and extend their reach to new audiences. Madhive’s customizable end-to-end platform supports the entire campaign lifecycle from proposal generation and planning to omnichannel buying, real-time optimization, and measurement. With robust workflow software that integrates seamlessly into existing systems, Madhive equips sellers with powerful tools to drive revenue. Trusted by leading local media enterprises like Fox, Scripps, and Hearst, as well as agencies such as Lifebrands, Madhive powers over 30,000 campaigns for small and medium-sized businesses every day. To learn more, visit Madhive.com.

Media Contact

Gina Preoteasa, Datonics, 1 (646) 867-0647, Gina@gbp.news, www.Datonics.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/madhive-enhances-data-partnership-with-datonics-the-industrys-first-certified-carbonneutral-data-provider-302457368.html

SOURCE Datonics

Continue Reading

Technology

Manulife Investment Management Announces Formation of Lakefront Fiber to Serve Hyperscale, Carrier and Municipal Customers

Published

on

By

BOSTON, May 19, 2025 Manulife Investment Management, through certain affiliates, (“collectively, Manulife IM”) today announced the formation of Lakefront Fiber, LLC (“Lakefront Fiber”), a joint venture with Midwest Fiber Networks (“MWFN”).

“We are pleased to partner with MWFN, with whom we have had a long-standing relationship, to support the build-out of Lakefront Fiber’s extensive pipeline,” said Recep Kendircioglu, Global Head of Infrastructure, Manulife Investment Management.

Lakefront Fiber will facilitate connectivity for hyperscale, carrier and municipal customers, building upon the long-standing relationships established by MWFN’s multi-decade position as a leading regional fiber developer and operator.

“This partnership represents the extension of our digital infrastructure strategy into critical fiber assets supported by long-term contracts with creditworthy counterparties,” said Eddie Dunn, Managing Director, Infrastructure, Manulife Investment Management.

Nik Ivancevic, Managing Partner of Midwest Fiber Networks, said “Our relationship with the Manulife IM team extends many years, and we are excited to expand MWFN’s scale to better serve our customers through Lakefront Fiber.”

Concurrently, Lakefront Fiber has also announced the closing of its first transaction, the acquisition of select network assets in the state of Illinois from Everstream. This strategic acquisition adds nearly 650 route miles, supporting Lakefront Fiber’s ability to deliver high-capacity fiber connectivity and customer-focused solutions across key markets in the Midwest.

About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management

As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

About Midwest Fiber Networks

Midwest Fiber Networks designs and delivers secure, high-speed fiber connectivity across the Midwest with a focus on reliability, redundancy, and customer satisfaction. With deep roots in telecommunications infrastructure and decades of experience, MWFN supports mission-critical operations for businesses, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and government entities. Through strategic partnerships and a rapidly growing footprint, MWFN is building the future of fiber—one mile at a time. For more information, visit midwestfibernetworks.com.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Bartlett, Elizabeth_Bartlett@Manulife.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/manulife-investment-management-announces-formation-of-lakefront-fiber-to-serve-hyperscale-carrier-and-municipal-customers-302459043.html

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management

Continue Reading

Technology

Workday Unveils Next Generation of Illuminate Agents to Transform HR and Finance Operations

Published

on

By

New AI Agents Help Speed Hiring, Improve Frontline Worker Experiences, Streamline Complex Financial Processes, and Empower Employees to Find Information Fast

PLEASANTON, Calif., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), the AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, today announced a new wave of Illuminate Agents designed to significantly speed up the hiring processes, improve frontline worker experiences, streamline complex financial processes, and empower employees to find information quickly and easily. The new agents leverage Workday’s foundation of responsible AI and are purpose-built to supercharge employee productivity – creating a future where agentic AI fundamentally transforms how work gets done.

“The key to unlocking real business value with AI is to actively reshape the very core of how businesses operate,” said Gerrit Kazmaier, president, product and technology, Workday. “Workday is helping our 11,000+ customers in that transformation by leveraging our deep HR and finance expertise to deliver agents that provide measurable business value and empower them to thrive in the future of work.”

“Data is a powerful catalyst for growth when it can be transformed into actionable intelligence,” said Shane Luke, vice president, Workday Illuminate. “Our agents leverage the world’s most powerful HR and finance dataset to turn insights into impact – boosting productivity, enhancing compliance, and accelerating decision-making at every level.”

New Illuminate Agents announced today include:

Contingent Sourcing Agent: Accelerates temporary hiring by identifying talent open to contingent roles, streamlining screening, and enhancing applicant quality.

Contract Intelligence Agent: Enhances legal and business decision-making by rapidly reviewing contracts to identify risks, track key dates and fees, and provide ongoing analysis.

Contract Negotiation Agent: Expedites negotiations by drafting applicable contract language, detecting risks, and recommending revisions.

Document Driven Accounting Agent: Sets a new benchmark for accounting productivity by extracting data from documents to automate billing, invoicing, and accounting entries.

Frontline Agent: Saves frontline workers and managers time by enabling text-based absence reporting, quickly identifying qualified replacements, and helping to ensure compliance and accurate shift pay.

Self-Service Agent: Powers employee and manager self-service by providing instant answers to inquiries, assisting with complex tasks, and executing everyday actions on employees’ behalf.

Supplier Contracts Agent: Proactively reviews supplier contracts to identify obligations and opportunities, aligning procurement processes with contract terms.

“Workday’s cutting-edge contract AI and automated workflow technology has already delivered tangible benefits, saving us thousands of hours and millions of dollars across multiple critical corporate initiatives,” said Shelle Elzer, legal operations manager, NetApp. “We’re genuinely excited to see Workday expand on this agent innovation and are confident these advancements will empower our teams with even greater efficiencies that ultimately free them to focus on more meaningful work.”

“Workday continues to effectively target critical business outcomes in productivity, compliance, and insights with agentic AI. This is one more significant step in establishing AI agents as practical and impactful tools for business transformation,” said Mickey North Rizza, group vice-president, IDC Enterprise Software. “Customers need measurable business value and clear time-to-payback and Workday’s innovations with agentic AI will resonate strongly with organizations looking to truly transform the future of work and fully take advantage of the power of AI.”

Workday Illuminate: AI to Transform How People Work
These new agents join Workday’s growing portfolio of agentic AI solutions, including the previously-announced Business Process Optimize Agent, Financial Audit Agent, Payroll Agent, Recruiting Agent, and Talent Mobility Agent. Customers will be able to easily deploy and manage these agents through the Workday Agent System of Record. This central command center will enable IT and business leaders to maximize the impact of their agents and ensure they support their employees to drive measurable outcomes.

Illuminate is the next generation of Workday AI. Built on the world’s largest and cleanest HR and financial dataset – fueled by more than 1 trillion transactions a year – Illuminate understands the business context around the data to transform business operations by elevating humans, accelerating finance, and managing an organization’s entire fleet of AI agents. From skills, to performance, goals, cost and ROI metrics, organizational models, and individual identities, Illuminate has deep contextual understanding of how work gets done.

Availability
Contract Intelligence Agent and Contract Negotiation Agent are now generally available. Self-Service Agent will be generally available by the end of 2025. Contingent Sourcing Agent, Document Driven Accounting Agent, Frontline Agent, and Supplier Contracts Agent will be available to early adopters by the end of 2025, with general availability planned for early 2026.

For More Information

Discover how Workday’s Illuminate Agents will transform entire business processes.Learn more about Workday’s previously-announced AI agents, powered by Illuminate.Explore Workday’s AI Masterclass to learn how to drive value from agentic AI.

About Workday
Workday is the AI platform for managing people, money, and agents. The Workday platform is built with AI at the core to help customers elevate people, supercharge work, and move their business forever forward. Workday is used by more than 11,000 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 60% of the Fortune 500. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com.

© 2025 Workday, Inc. All rights reserved. Workday and the Workday logo are registered trademarks of Workday, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding Workday’s plans, beliefs, and expectations. These forward-looking statements are based only on currently available information and our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. If the risks materialize, assumptions prove incorrect, or we experience unexpected changes in circumstances, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements, and therefore you should not rely on any forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our most recent report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K and other reports that we have filed and will file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Workday assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Any unreleased services, features, or functions referenced in this document, our website, or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Workday’s discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Workday services should make their purchase decisions based upon services, features, and functions that are currently available.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/workday-unveils-next-generation-of-illuminate-agents-to-transform-hr-and-finance-operations-302458500.html

SOURCE Workday Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending