Former Geffen Records president Neil Jacobson’s independent music company, Hallwood Media, has signed a first-of-its-kind record deal with Imoliver, an artist who built his following on the controversial AI music-generation platform Suno. The pact marks the first time a traditional label has signed a so-called “AI music designer,” legitimizing a new class of creator.
From prompt to release: The deal gives Imoliver—a real person, not an avatar—a full suite of label services. His track “Stone,” which has already earned over 3 million plays on Suno, will get an official release on all streaming platforms on August 8, with a full album to follow on October 24.
Threat or frontier: Jacobson, a music industry veteran, is betting on AI as a new creative frontier, calling Imoliver “the future of our medium.” The move lands in a deeply divided industry, where some see AI as a threat to human artistry. Imoliver himself framed it as “expanding what’s possible,” not replacing artists.
Caught in the crossfire: The deal puts Hallwood in an awkward position, as its much larger rivals are actively trying to sue Suno out of existence. Major labels like Universal and Sony are currently suing the AI platform for allegedly training its models on copyrighted music, creating a tense legal backdrop for the celebratory announcement.
The bottom line: AI-assisted music makers have been bubbling up on the fringes, but Imoliver is the first to officially cross over with a record deal, blurring the line between a platform user and a mainstream artist.
The wider AI music view: The deal is part of a broader, chaotic trend. Legendary producer Timbaland has also launched his own AI record label, while the industry is still untangling the mystery of an AI band that may have been an elaborate hoax. Meanwhile, even as they sue AI startups, major players like Universal Music Group are moving to accelerate their own AI music patents, showing just how conflicted the industry is about its technological future.