October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
DocumentaryTube
AI music

Lead Investor in Music Generation App Suno Deletes Tweet That Contradicts Its Argument in High-Stakes Court Cases

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

C.C. Gong, a principal at Menlo Ventures and a major Suno investor, deleted a February 26, 2026 post describing how she had moved most of her listening from Spotify to Suno. She did not publicly explain the deletion. The post is potentially awkward for Suno because it describes AI-generated music as taking the place of a conventional streaming service, while Suno’s legal arguments emphasize that its outputs do not substitute for the copyrighted music used to train or compete with them.

The deletion is not a court admission, and no ruling has found that Gong’s post proves market substitution, infringement or loss of fair-use protection. Its importance is that an investor’s own description of her listening behavior appears to supply the kind of real-world example opposing lawyers could cite.

What C.C. Gong wrote before deleting the post

On February 26, 2026, Gong wrote that she was “so tired of Spotify giving me the same overplayed recommendations” and had “personally shifted most of my listening to Suno.” She presented that change as a benefit of generative music rather than merely an experiment with a new app.

  • “When everyone can create, the catalog becomes infinite and music becomes even more personalized.”
  • “Instead of competing for mainstream hits, AI unlocks an ever-expanding long tail, meaning everyone can find their song, not just a song.”

The post was later removed. A deletion by itself does not establish why it happened. Gong has not publicly stated that lawyers, Suno executives or litigation concerns prompted the decision, although the wording drew immediate attention because of Suno’s pending copyright cases.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Akai Professional MPK Mini IV 25-Key USB-C MIDI Keyboard Controller, Black
  • Next-Gen Music Production and Beat Maker Essential - USB-powered MIDI keyboard controller with 25 mini velocity-sensitive keys, optimized for studio or beat production, piano-style performance, synth leads, sample triggering
  • Real-Time Control and Navigation - 8x assignable 360° knobs, a vibrant full-color screen and push/turn encoder for hands-on access to settings, presets, and DAW functions, without reaching for a computer
  • Iconic MPC Pads with RGB Feedback - 8 velocity- and pressure-sensitive MPC pads deliver an iconic finger-drumming experience, plus dynamic visual feedback to match your performance in studio or on the go
  • Studio Instrument Collection Included - A powerful VST/AU and standalone virtual suite packing 1000+ pro-grade drums, keys, synths, bass, FX from AIR, Akai Pro and Moog, plus MPK Mini IV integrated controls
  • Pre-Mapped DAW Integration - Get producing in under 15 minutes with Ableton Live Lite 12, Logic Pro, FL Studio and more; comes with an expanded DAW-mapped transport section for uninterrupted workflow

Why the wording matters to Suno’s copyright defense

UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Suno is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The case addresses allegations that Suno used copyrighted sound recordings to train its models, as well as fair use, discovery, market effects and the scope of the parties’ claims. Suno also faces other copyright disputes and negotiations.

Part of Suno’s market position, as described in reporting and court materials, is that generated outputs are not substitutes for the licensed music used to train the models or for the existing music those works compete with. Gong’s post describes the opposite experience: she says Suno replaced much of her Spotify listening by giving her a personalized, effectively unlimited catalog.

Rank #2
Sale
Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus 37-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
  • Full Creative Control - A dynamic 37-Key MPK Mini keybed for 3 full octaves of melodic and harmonic performance; Easily connect to your DAW or studio equipment with the USB-powered MIDI Controller
  • Advanced Connectivity - Connect to different sound sources with CV/Gate and MIDI I/O; Control modular gear, sound modules, synthesizers, and more to bring new sound sources into your music production
  • Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) Integration - Akai Professional and Native Instruments have partnered to bring NKS support to the MPK Controller series, get ready to Kontrol straight from your MPK
  • Choose Your Exclusive Complimentary NKS Bundle - Browse and control Native Instruments presets and sound libraries; select one of three curated Komplete 15 Select bundles: Beats, Band, or Electronic
  • Record and Compose Without a Computer - Connect to your production station and use the built-in 64-step sequencer featuring one track for drums and one for melodies or chords, with up to 8 notes each

That creates a potential contradiction, but not a legal conclusion. A court would have to decide what the post proves, how representative one investor’s behavior is, whether Suno adopted the same view, and how that evidence fits with technical, economic and market evidence in the case.

What the deleted post does—and does not—show

Established by the public record Not established by the post
Gong said she moved most of her listening from Spotify to Suno. That Suno’s products have replaced Spotify for the market as a whole.
She described an infinite, personalized catalog and a long-tail alternative to mainstream hits. That the statement represents Suno’s formal legal position or corporate policy.
The post was later deleted. Why it was deleted or whether Suno requested its removal.
The language can be read as an example of substitution. That the tweet proves infringement, market harm or defeats fair use.

Did Suno’s investor admit that AI music replaces Spotify?

No. Gong described her own listening choice, not a measured finding about Spotify’s users, Suno’s overall usage or the size of any displaced-music market. An investor’s statement can nevertheless be relevant because it offers a concrete account of someone choosing generated music instead of a licensed streaming catalog.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
  • Music Production and Beat Maker Essential -USB powered MIDI controller with 25 mini MIDI keyboard velocity-sensitive keys for studio production, virtual synthesizer control and beat production
  • Total Control of your Production - Innovative 4-way thumbstick for dynamic pitch and modulation control, plus a built-in arpeggiator with adjustable resolution, range and modes
  • Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) Integration - Akai Professional and Native Instruments have partnered to bring NKS support to the MPK Controller series, get ready to Kontrol straight from your MPK
  • Choose Your Exclusive Complimentary NKS Bundle - Browse and control Native Instruments presets and sound libraries; select one of three curated Komplete 15 Select bundles: Beats, Band, or Electronic
  • The MPC Experience - 8 backlit velocity-sensitive MPC-style MIDI beat pads with Note Repeat and Full Level for programming drums, triggering samples and controlling virtual synthesizer / DAW controls

The distinction matters in litigation. Evidence that one person changed services may support an argument that substitution is possible; it does not by itself establish market-wide harm, consumer demand, causation or the legal treatment of Suno’s training practices.

How the episode fits the wider Suno timeline

Date Development Significance
February 26, 2026 Gong posted about shifting most of her listening from Spotify to Suno, then later deleted the post. The statement gives opponents a specific example of AI music being used in place of a streaming service.
2026 Suno CEO Mikey Shulman publicly announced two million paid subscribers and $300 million in annual recurring revenue. These are company-reported scale and revenue figures, not findings made by a court.
2026 TechCrunch reported a $400 million Series D financing at a $5.4 billion valuation. The financing illustrates investor expectations but does not resolve copyright or market questions.
September 9, 2026 TechCrunch reported that Suno said its v6 model was trained on licensed music and not on the data used for earlier models. It is a company statement about later training provenance, not an independent judicial finding about v6 or earlier systems.

What happens to the training-data argument

Suno’s later statement about v6 draws a line between that model and earlier systems: the company says v6 used licensed music and did not use the data used for earlier models. The statement does not explain every source in the earlier training sets, settle the allegations in the UMG case or determine whether a model’s outputs substitute for protected recordings.

Rank #4
Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus 37-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller, White
  • Full Creative Control - A dynamic 37-Key MPK Mini keybed for 3 full octaves of melodic and harmonic performance; Easily connect to your DAW or studio equipment with the USB-powered MIDI Controller
  • Advanced Connectivity - Connect to different sound sources with CV/Gate and MIDI I/O; Control modular gear, sound modules, synthesizers, and more to bring new sound sources into your music production
  • Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) Integration - Akai Professional and Native Instruments have partnered to bring NKS support to the MPK Controller series, get ready to Kontrol straight from your MPK
  • Choose Your Exclusive Complimentary NKS Bundle - Browse and control Native Instruments presets and sound libraries; select one of three curated Komplete 15 Select bundles: Beats, Band, or Electronic
  • Record and Compose Without a Computer - Connect to your production station and use the built-in 64-step sequencer featuring one track for drums and one for melodies or chords, with up to 8 notes each

Training provenance and market substitution are related but separate questions. A court can examine what material was copied or used in training, whether a use is fair, and how outputs affect markets. A change in training practice may affect future models without resolving claims about products released before the change.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How lawyers and a court may evaluate the tweet

Commentator Ed Newton-Rex, a composer and leader of Fairly Trained, said: “This tweet, from Suno’s lead investor, will surely be used in court one day.” That is a prediction about litigation strategy, not a ruling.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
Akai Professional LPK25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
  • Mini Keys, Major Performance - 25-key MIDI controller keyboard with responsive keys to play with feel and dynamics; Enjoy expressive songwriting, composing, jamming, playing melodies, bass lines, and more
  • Full Range Experience - Play every note with ease; Use the dedicated octave up and down buttons to transpose the range of your software instruments plus a sustain button for expressive performances
  • Feature Packed - Use the built-in arpeggiator and clock for creative control of any of your sound sources like software instruments, synthesizers, or USB-enabled modular gear, all by one USB cable
  • Customized Production - With 8 programmable preset slots you can instantly recall your mappings for DAWs, virtual instruments, and more; Create, edit, and manage all your presets from the computer
  • Versatile Performance - The USB Studio MIDI controller is perfect for your songwriting, beat-making, and DJ remixes whenever you're inspired; The sleek design fits alongside your studio equipment

Its potential evidentiary value would likely turn on several questions:

  1. Authenticity and context: whether archived copies establish the wording, date and account ownership, and whether the post was personal or connected to Suno’s business communications.
  2. Role and knowledge: what weight, if any, a court gives to a principal at a major investor compared with statements by Suno’s officers, engineers or economists.
  3. Representativeness: whether Gong’s experience is an isolated preference or aligns with usage data, customer research and evidence about music markets.
  4. Meaning of “shifted”: whether she stopped paying for Spotify, used both services, or simply spent more listening time on Suno.
  5. Corroboration: whether discovery supplies product metrics, internal documents or expert analysis supporting or contradicting the substitution theory.

The business stakes behind the dispute

Suno’s reported scale makes the market question more consequential than a dispute over a small experimental tool. The following figures were publicly reported in 2026 and should be read as company or press-reported claims:

Figure How it was reported What it does not establish
Two million paid subscribers Public announcement by CEO Mikey Shulman Whether subscribers replaced other music services or use Suno alongside them
$300 million annual recurring revenue Same 2026 CEO announcement Profitability, royalty allocation or the legality of training practices
$400 million Series D at a $5.4 billion valuation Reported by TechCrunch in 2026 That investors’ valuation assumptions will survive the copyright litigation

What to watch next

  • Discovery: filings and evidence in UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Suno may show how the parties quantify substitution, competition and consumer behavior.
  • Training provenance: the record may distinguish earlier models from Suno’s stated licensed-data approach for v6.
  • Market evidence: usage, retention, subscription and listening data could show whether generated tracks complement streaming catalogs or displace them.
  • Compensation and licensing: negotiations may clarify how artists and rightsholders are paid when music is used for training or when generated outputs compete with recordings.
  • Judicial treatment: only a court can determine what weight Gong’s deleted post receives and whether it affects any element of Suno’s defenses.

Bottom line

Gong’s deleted post matters because it puts a recognizable human example behind an argument central to Suno’s litigation: generated music can be used instead of a licensed streaming service. It may become useful evidence for opponents, but it is not an admission that settles the case. Suno’s later claim that v6 was trained on licensed music changes the provenance story for that model, while leaving the disputes over earlier models and market effects unresolved.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Read next

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.