Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Suno Pulls Mary J. Blige Ad After Saying Deal Was Brokered by Fake Representative

The removal highlights gaps in how artist approvals are verified for generative-AI music and raises fresh legal and reputational pressure on the company, intensifying industry debate over consent and dataset use.

Overview

  • Suno said Thursday it removed an 85-second advertisement featuring Mary J. Blige after learning the company had struck a business deal with someone who falsely claimed to represent her and that Blige was uncomfortable with the campaign.
  • The video showed Blige in a studio as a producer used Suno to build a track called “Pretty Flowers,” and she appears to call the process “dope” and “amazing,” though heavily edited clips made her remarks unclear.
  • At least one circulated edit reportedly included a synthetic-sounding voice resembling Blige’s, and those edits helped fuel online backlash over whether the ad misrepresented her endorsement.
  • Neither Suno nor Blige’s camp has identified the person who arranged the deal, leaving the approval chain and how the footage was authorized unresolved.
  • The episode comes while Suno faces multiple copyright lawsuits and a recent German court ruling against it even as it has licensing deals with Warner and BMG, which heightens questions about artist consent, dataset use and possible industry or regulatory changes.