ElevenLabs made an AI album to plug its music generator | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.ElevenLabs made an AI album to plug its music generatorComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentElevenLabs made an AI album to plug its music generatorThe Eleven Album is supposed to showcase ‘how artists can use AI to expand their creative range.’The Eleven Album is supposed to showcase ‘how artists can use AI to expand their creative range.’by Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedJan 21, 2026, 5:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftThe images in the background serve as covers for each song on The Eleven Album. Image: ElevenLabs / The VergeJess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.ElevenLabs has released an album of AI-generated songs in its latest attempt to separate itself from the ethical concerns surrounding AI music. The Eleven Album aims to showcase “how artists can use AI to expand their creative range while maintaining full authorship and commercial rights,” according to ElevenLabs.ElevenLabs is using the album to market its Eleven Music generator and Iconic Voices Marketplace platforms it launched last year, both of which are cleared for commercial use. ElevenLabs says that every artist on the project “produced a fully original track that blends their signature sound with the capabilities of Eleven Music,” and retains full ownership of their work alongside earning 100 percent of any streaming revenue.The Eleven Album features a mishmash of musical genres and spoken word from 13 artists (which feels like a missed opportunity), including:Liza Minnelli Art Garfunkel Patrick Patrikios Willonius (best known for creating “BBL Drizzy”)Iamsu!Demitri LeriosEmily Falvey Sunsetto KondZilla Chris Lyons KaiAngelbaby Michael FeinsteinYou can listen to the album — or to cite ElevenLabs, “experience the future of sound” — on Spotify or the ElevenLabs website.This comes as music labels have started to shift their perspectives on AI’s place within the industry. After months of fighting with music generators and online platforms over copyright infringement, Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Records have forged deals with Suno, Udio, and other AI platforms. Sony Music Entertainment also joined Warner and UMG in inking deals with Klay’s “ethical” AI platform.ElevenLabs is trying to avoid missing out on those monetization opportunities by appealing to artists directly. Many have voiced strong opposition to having their voice, style, and likeness cloned. Without compensation and ownership rights, those AI clones could impact their ability to make money, given that most people can’t distinguish between AI-generated and human-made music.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentMusicCloseMusicPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MusicNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsMost PopularMost PopularSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLHow much can a city take?What a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVsHow BYD beat TeslaSamsung’s discounted microSD Express card more than doubles your Switch 2 storageThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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ElevenLabs’ “The Eleven Album” represents a calculated attempt to address growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence’s encroachment into creative fields, particularly music. The album, launched as a showcase for their Eleven Music generator and Iconic Voices Marketplace, is structured around the core proposition that artists can leverage AI tools while maintaining full ownership and commercial rights. This strategy directly responds to the prevailing anxiety within the music industry – a tension fueled by disputes over copyright infringement and the potential devaluation of artistic labor through AI-driven replication.

The album itself comprises contributions from thirteen artists, spanning diverse genres and stylistic backgrounds – including Liza Minnelli, Art Garfunkel, Patrick Patrikios Willonius (known for his work with “BBL Drizzy”), Iamsu!, Demitri Lerios, Emily Falvey, Sunsetto, KondZilla, Chris Lyons, Kai, and Angelbaby. While the breadth of this selection is intended to demonstrate the versatility of the Eleven Music generator, the inclusion of less established or niche artists like Willonius raises questions about the album's overall impact. The core idea behind the selection—presenting a varied cross section of voices utilizing the technology— seems intended to allay concerns about AI only benefitting a select few.

The initiative directly engages with the shifting dynamics within the music industry. Following protracted battles between music labels and AI platforms over copyright issues, major players like Universal Music Group and Warner Records have begun forging strategic partnerships with AI technology companies, including Suno and Udio, and Sony Music Entertainment has followed suit. This reflects a pragmatic acceptance of AI’s potential within the industry, albeit with a greater emphasis on ensuring artist compensation and ownership.

ElevenLabs’ approach distinguishes itself by appealing directly to artists, avoiding the contentious legal battles and offering a model where creators retain 100 percent of streaming revenue. This strategy positions the company as a supportive partner, rather than a disruptive competitor, aligning with a growing trend towards collaborative innovation. However, the practical implications of this model remain to be fully tested, and the long-term sustainability of revenue streams for artists utilizing Eleven Music will depend on widespread adoption and sustained demand for AI-generated music. The overall project can be seen as a test of a potentially viable model: one that encourages creative experimentation while simultaneously addressing the ethical and economic anxieties surrounding AI’s impact on the arts.