Illustration for: Suno CEO says typing prompts ‘really active’ as AI adds drums, vocals, stems
Business & Startups

Suno CEO says typing prompts ‘really active’ as AI adds drums, vocals, stems

2 min read

Suno’s latest demo shows how a simple line of text can turn into a multi‑track arrangement, and the company’s chief executive is quick to point out that the process feels “really active.” The platform lets users type a prompt—think “upbeat synth pop” or “moody acoustic ballad”—and watches the AI spin out a full‑length composition in seconds. What’s catching attention isn’t just the initial melody; the system can then layer drums, vocal lines and even separate stems without any external files. For musicians who have already built a base track using Suno’s prompt‑driven Create feature, the tool promises a deeper level of editing, letting them isolate and tweak individual elements. That capability raises questions about how much of the traditional mixing workflow can be shifted to an AI‑first approach, and whether creators will rely more on generated parts than on their own recordings.

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But it can also generate drum and vocal tracks completely from its AI model. In fact, it seems primarily designed for deep dive editing and stem separation of songs you've already created using Suno's prompt-based Create. And while chopping up AI-created tracks to fine‑tune a song is certainly more

But it can also generate drum and vocal tracks completely from its AI model. In fact, it seems primarily designed for deep dive editing and stem separation of songs you've already created using Suno's prompt-based Create. And while chopping up AI-created tracks to fine-tune a song is certainly more involved than simply pressing a button and accepting whatever Suno v5 spits out, I wouldn't call it "really active." So maybe Shulman simply means that Suno Studio is accomplishing the company's stated goal of bringing "interactive music tools to the average person." Well, to gain access to Suno Studio, you need to shell out for a Premier plan, which starts at $24 a month, or $288 a year.

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Is the promise of typing a prompt into an AI truly “active” music creation, or merely a sleek interface for post‑production tweaks? Suno’s recent $250 million infusion—valued at $2.45 billion—suggests investors see commercial potential, yet the company still faces lawsuits from the three major labels, the RIAA and several indie artists over alleged copyright infringement in its training data. The CEO, Mikey Shulman, points to the system’s ability to spawn drum and vocal tracks from scratch, but the same article notes the tool appears chiefly built for deep‑dive editing and stem separation of songs already generated via Suno’s prompt‑based Create feature.

Consequently, the platform may function more as a sophisticated remixing suite than a full‑scale composition engine. While chopping up AI‑created tracks to fine‑tune a song is certainly more …, the article leaves it unclear how much original creative input remains after such manipulation. Whether Suno’s model will reshape how musicians work, or simply add another layer to existing workflows, remains uncertain amid ongoing legal challenges and the broader debate over AI‑trained music.

Further Reading

Common Questions Answered

How does Suno's platform generate drums and vocal tracks from a simple text prompt?

Suno's AI model interprets a user‑typed prompt, such as "upbeat synth pop," and then autonomously creates drum patterns and vocal lines without needing any external audio files. The system layers these elements onto the initial melody, producing a multi‑track arrangement in seconds.

What does CEO Mikey Shulman mean by describing the prompt‑based creation process as ‘really active’?

Shulman refers to the interactive nature of Suno Studio, where users can continuously edit, separate stems, and fine‑tune AI‑generated tracks rather than just accepting a static output. This deep‑dive editing workflow makes the creation feel dynamic and hands‑on, aligning with his description of it being "really active."

What financial backing has Suno received, and how does it reflect investor confidence?

Suno recently secured a $250 million investment, bringing its valuation to $2.45 billion, which signals strong investor belief in the commercial viability of AI‑driven music generation. The sizable funding underscores expectations that Suno's technology will capture a significant share of the music production market.

What legal challenges is Suno facing despite its technological advances?

The company is currently sued by three major record labels, the RIAA, and several indie artists who allege that Suno's training data includes copyrighted material without permission. These lawsuits raise questions about the legality of its AI‑generated content, even as the platform continues to innovate.