AI music startup Udio has just launched Sessions, a new visual AI music editing workstation. The timing is striking — it comes as Udio, alongside rival Suno, remains embroiled in high?profile copyright lawsuits filed by major labels and independent artists. This article explores what Sessions is, why Udio launched it now, how the lawsuits affect users and the industry, and what creators should know moving forward.
1. What Is Sessions?
Interactive visual editing: Sessions identifies key song parts—verses, choruses, bridges—based on waveform analysis. You can drag, extend, or replace them, improving flow and structure intuitively.
Accessible tiers: Available on Standard and Pro Udio plans since June?25,?2025 .
AI?powered backbone: Leverages Udio’s existing Allegro?v1.5 model for fast, reliable output. Users can style-reference tracks and edit lyrics or sections through a visual session view.
2. Why Launch Now—During Lawsuits?
A. Strategic Diversion
With Sony, Universal, and Warner suing Udio—and Suno—over alleged unauthorized training on copyrighted material, releasing Sessions shifts the narrative from legal risk to product progress.
B. User?Retention Play
Offering enhanced editing keeps users engaged despite uncertainty. Sessions supports creators who are weighing AI platforms amid lawsuit anxiety.
C. Demonstrating Growth
By innovating, Udio signals to investors that it’s not stalled. The timing suggests a broader strategy to outpace competitors both in tech and market presence.
3. Legal Battles in Context
Lawsuit Details
Majors’ lawsuit (June 2024): Sony, Universal, and Warner claim Udio and Suno trained on copyrighted recordings without permission .
Independent artist suit (June 19, 2025): Country musician Tony Justice filed class-action claims against Udio and Suno in NY and Massachusetts, accusing them of “prima facie copyright infringement”.
RIAA case: Filed in federal courts in Boston (Suno) and New York (Udio), alleging harm to artists’ earnings, with statutory damages up to $150,000 per work.
Industry Reaction
Udio defends itself, saying its AI “only listens,” not copies recordings.
Fair use is their claimed defense; labels argue AI-generated works compete directly in the marketplace.
4. Why It Matters for Creators
A. For Current Udio Users
Sessions offers a sleek in-app option to refine AI-generated tracks without exporting to third-party DAWs. It makes the creative workflow more seamless.
B. For New Creators
The visual workstation lowers technical barriers—open a song and drag parts into place.
C. For Legal?minded Artists
Lawsuits don’t limit use of Udio’s features—if anything, boosted innovation reassures creators about platform resilience.
5. Comparing Udio’s Sessions with Competitors
| Feature | Udio Sessions | Suno (soon?) | Traditional DAWs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual AI clip editing | ?? | ? | ? (manual zones) |
| AI lyric/melody style?referencing | ?? | ?? | ? |
| Online/browser?based | ?? | ?? (generator) | Mostly desktop apps |
| Integration in one platform | ?? | Partial | No AI?native UI |
6. Market Insight & Data
Udio v1.5 Allegro: Offers up to 30% faster generation speed with consistent quality.
Sessions launch: June 25, 2025.
Legal timeline:
Majors sued in June 2024.
Tony Justice filed in June 2025.
Labels in talks: Warner, UMG, and Sony are negotiating licensing for AI training and fingerprinting tech—which may ease legal pressure.
7. What’s Next for Udio?
Legal settlements or licensing deals: Major labels want attribution/fingerprinting systems and fees—could resolve lawsuits while legitimizing Udio.
More AI-enhanced tools: After Sessions, Udio may expand audio-inpainting, stem separation, or collaborative features.
Potential bundling: Udio may combine generation, editing, and distribution in one package.
Conclusion
Udio’s Sessions launch reflects bold innovation—even under legal threat. It enables creators to visually edit AI-generated music in-browser, improving workflow and retention. While lawsuits continue, the platform is evolving, perhaps preparing to negotiate licensing deals or introduce more powerful tools.
For artists and producers, Sessions offers a powerful way to experiment with AI while keeping the creative process simple. Whether legal outcomes favor Udio or force changes, its commitment to product innovation sounds optimistic for users.
FAQs
Q1: Does Sessions cost extra?
No—the feature is included within Udio’s Standard and Pro tiers since June 25, 2025.
Q2: Are Udio and Suno still facing lawsuits?
Yes. Lawsuits include one by major labels from June 2024 and a class-action by Tony Justice in June 2025.
Q3: Could Sessions be removed if Udio loses in court?
Even if lawsuits succeed, existing features typically remain for users—it’s more likely Udio will pay damages or negotiate licensing.
Q4: Can I drag in audio from other DAWs into Sessions?
Sessions is for editing Udio-generated tracks. For third-party audio, Udio recommends external DAWs until integration expands.
Q5: Will Udio settle with labels?
Labels are already in talks with Udio and Suno to license music usage and include fingerprinting regulators.
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