AI music generation platform Suno has reportedly pulled a promotional advertisement featuring Mary J. Blige after the R&B icon faced widespread online criticism — and after it emerged that the deal was never actually approved by the singer herself.
In a statement to Variety, a Suno spokesperson said the company had entered into a business arrangement with someone who presented themselves as Blige’s official representative. “As soon as we learned this was not the case, and that Ms. Blige was uncomfortable, we terminated the advertising campaign,” the spokesperson said.
The controversy stems from an 85-second video ad released last month that appeared to show Blige collaborating with a producer on an AI-generated track. In the clip, Blige can be seen in a studio setting while the producer uses Suno to create a song called “Pretty Flowers,” which sounds noticeably similar to her own musical style. The singer asks the producer to add strings and a beat, then watches as the track is generated within seconds. She appears impressed, responding that the process is “amazing” and “dope.”
But Blige reportedly never signed off on the advertisement. According to Variety, the deal was allegedly made by someone who lacked the authority to do so on her behalf. The singer did not explicitly address the ad herself, but the backlash on social media was swift and severe, prompting Suno to remove the video from its platforms.
“Ms. Blige is an icon who we all deeply admire,” the Suno spokesperson added. “Ever since she broke onto the scene with ‘What’s the 411,’ ‘No More Drama,’ ‘The Breakthrough,’ ‘Growing Pains,’ etc., she hasn’t stopped innovating. That’s why we wanted to work with her.”
The episode highlights the ongoing tensions between AI music companies and the established music industry — a relationship that has been marked by legal battles and mutual distrust.
Suno’s Legal Battles with the Music Industry
Suno has had a combative history with record labels and rights holders. In 2024, Suno and fellow AI music generator Udio were sued by major labels Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records. The labels accused the platforms of exploiting recorded works from professional musicians without permission to train their AI models.
More recently, Suno has faced legal action from GEMA, a German royalty collection society. GEMA accused Suno of generating tracks that mimic existing songs, including Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5” and Alphaville’s “Forever Young.”
Last month, according to Variety, a German court ruled that Suno had violated both U.S. and German copyright laws. That ruling adds to the company’s mounting legal troubles as it continues to develop its AI music tools.
For Blige, the ad’s removal may not fully quell the criticism — some observers questioned whether the singer was fully aware of the implications of appearing in an AI-related campaign. The episode also underscores the broader debate over how AI companies use artists’ likenesses and music catalogs, often without clear consent or compensation mechanisms.
Suno has not disclosed whether it plans to take action against the individual who allegedly misrepresented themselves as Blige’s representative, nor has it commented on whether the ad would be re-released in any form. As of now, the video appears to have been removed from Suno’s social media channels.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/09/05/ai-music-app-suno-axes-mary-j-blige-ad-after-singer-receives-massive-backlash/