ElevenLabs Music v2: Mid-Track Genre Switching and Section Editing Arrive

ElevenLabs released Music v2 on May 26, 2026, marking a significant step forward for AI-generated music . The new model introduces two headline capabilities: the ability to switch musical genres mid-track without losing coherence, and granular "inpainting" controls that let users regenerate specific sections of a song. These features arrive alongside a pricing model that spans free hobbyist access to enterprise-only tools, all built on a foundation of licensed training data that deliberately avoids the legal battles plaguing competitors like Suno and Udio.

How mid-track genre switching works

Music v2 can seamlessly transition between radically different genres within a single composition. ElevenLabs demonstrated transitions from opera to heavy metal and back again, as well as moves from country to fast rap, without any break in flow .

This is not just a parlor trick. The underlying model has received broad improvements to vocal clarity, instrumental quality, and arrangement coherence . It can deliver rapid, intelligible rap vocals and even incorporate non-musical sound effects directly into a track . In practice, this means artists can now construct a song section by section — setting an intro in one style, a verse in another, and a chorus in a third — using natural language prompts to define the genre and mood for each segment.

Section-by-section editing with inpainting

The most consequential new production feature is music inpainting. Instead of regenerating an entire song to fix a 10-second bridge, users can now select a specific section and recreate just that part using a text prompt .

According to ElevenLabs' documentation, the workflow involves generating a track, storing it, and then referencing its sections in new "composition plans." You can regenerate a weak verse, extend a track with a new intro or outro, or even combine sections from multiple stored songs .

There is a significant catch: music inpainting is currently an enterprise-only feature. Access requires contacting ElevenLabs' sales team directly . For individual creators and smaller teams, the editing experience is more limited, though the core Music v2 model improvements in quality and genre control apply to all tiers.

Platforms and pricing

Music v2 powers three distinct ElevenLabs products :

• ElevenMusic — a standalone consumer app for listening, remixing, and creating tracks. It has its own subscription pricing: a free tier (7 songs per day) and a Pro tier at $9.99/month (500 tracks) .
• ElevenAPI — enables developers to embed music generation directly into third-party products. Pricing is based on minutes generated, typically around $0.50 per minute, with bundled minutes included in subscription plans .
• ElevenCreative — a self-serve platform for downloadable music aimed at ads, branded content, and video.

On the core ElevenLabs platform, Music v2 access is available across all subscription tiers :

• Free ($0/month): includes basic music generation with 10,000 credits per month, but outputs carry no commercial license.
• Starter ($6/month): unlocks commercial licensing and music features, with 30,000 monthly credits.
• Creator ($22/month), Pro ($99/month), Scale/Business tiers: offer progressively more credits and features; only Enterprise plans get access to inpainting.

Alongside the v2 launch, ElevenLabs cut pricing for both Music v1 and v2 by up to 50% for API customers and up to 40% for ElevenCreative self-serve users .

The licensing strategy that separates ElevenLabs from Suno and Udio

While Music v2's creative features grab headlines, the real strategic difference is legal. ElevenLabs entered the AI music space in August 2025 with a fundamentally different approach to training data .

Before ever launching a music product, the company secured licensing deals with Merlin Network (representing thousands of independent labels) and Kobalt Music Group (a major publishing rights organization) . It also built a data pipeline of 14 million pre-cleared songs through SourceAudio . Under these agreements, artists must opt in for their music to be used in AI training . This means ElevenLabs users can generate tracks with a clear chain of commercial rights from day one.

The contrast with Suno and Udio is stark. Both startups were sued in June 2024 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on behalf of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group for allegedly training on copyrighted recordings without permission . The litigation has reshaped the competitive landscape :

• Warner Music Group settled with Suno in November 2025 and entered a licensing agreement .
• Universal Music Group (UMG) settled with Udio in October 2025, with a jointly licensed UMG x Udio platform expected later in 2026 .
• Sony Music has settled with neither company, and its fair-use cases against both are expected to produce a pivotal ruling in 2026 that could set legal precedent for the entire industry .

Suno and Udio have effectively admitted in court filings that they trained on unlicensed copyrighted recordings . Both are now working their way out of infringement exposure through settlements and licensing deals, but the process is ongoing.

ElevenLabs' pre-clearance approach gives it a distinct advantage for commercial users — brands, advertisers, and developers — who need unambiguous legal coverage for AI-generated music. As CEO Mati Staniszewski described it, the licensing deals create "legal cover for broad commercial use" . That enterprise-safe positioning, combined with the new creative capabilities in Music v2, represents the company's core bet on where the AI music market is heading.