A music exec just jumped ship for an AI startup. Derek Cournoyer left indie publisher Kobalt to join ElevenLabs as its Head of Strategy for Music Business Affairs. He will shape the company's industry relations with labels and publishers from Los Angeles. Cournoyer previously helped negotiate a partnership between his old employer and the AI firm, allowing Kobalt artists to participate in training its platform.
ElevenLabs runs an AI music generator called Eleven Music Pro. It rivals similar platforms but emphasizes using legally licensed songs for training its models. The company also secured a partnership with licensing organization Merlin. Cournoyer spent years at Kobalt, most recently leading global digital business strategy. There, he worked on deals with major tech platforms and shaped the publisher's approach to AI.
Company leadership praised his deep understanding of artists' needs and the AI landscape. ElevenLabs recently received strategic investment from chip giant NVIDIA. The move highlights the ongoing convergence of the music industry and artificial intelligence technology. Cournoyer stated the team's advanced audio platform and serious approach motivated his decision to join.
ElevenLabs runs an AI music generator called Eleven Music Pro. It rivals similar platforms but emphasizes using legally licensed songs for training its models. The company also secured a partnership with licensing organization Merlin. Cournoyer spent years at Kobalt, most recently leading global digital business strategy. There, he worked on deals with major tech platforms and shaped the publisher's approach to AI.
Company leadership praised his deep understanding of artists' needs and the AI landscape. ElevenLabs recently received strategic investment from chip giant NVIDIA. The move highlights the ongoing convergence of the music industry and artificial intelligence technology. Cournoyer stated the team's advanced audio platform and serious approach motivated his decision to join.
