Timbaland launches Stage Zero with AI artist TaTa
Grammy-winning producer Timbaland has rolled out a new AI entertainment company, Stage Zero. Its first AI artist, TaTa, debuted June 5. Timbaland says TaTa isn’t a character or avatar — she’s an autonomous, self-learning AI music artist.
Stage Zero was co-founded by Timbaland, producer Rocky Mudaliar, and AI music strategist Zayd Portillo. Portillo helps develop AI music projects like CamUp! and advises AI platform Suno, though Stage Zero runs independently from Suno. 
The AI artist’s voice originated from Suno’s AI system, which Timbaland uses to process demos and add human-written lyrics. The team sees TaTa as the start of a new wave of AI music talents.
Timbaland stated:
“She is not an avatar. She is not a character. TaTa is a living, learning, autonomous music artist built with AI. TaTa is the start of something bigger. She’s the first artist of a new generation. A-Pop is the next cultural evolution, and TaTa is its first icon.”
Rocky Mudaliar added:
“The artists of tomorrow won’t just be human, they’ll be IP, code, and robotics that are fully autonomous. That’s what we’re building at Stage Zero.”
Timbaland said he’s moved beyond making tracks to building whole “systems, stories, and stars from scratch.” This comes amid his ongoing partnership with Suno, which recently faced copyright lawsuits from major record labels. Suno and rival Udio are negotiating licensing deals with Sony, Universal, and Warner despite the legal battles.
Stage Zero teased plans beyond TaTa, promising more music and “so much more to be revealed soon.” This move follows Timbaland’s 2021 launch of Beatclub, a beat marketplace that secured funding and expanded to China through NetEase last year.
Timbaland’s backing of AI music is clear — he told Billboard in April that AI slashed his production time from three months to two days, calling early tech “like going to a toy store” but now essential.
Stage Zero is positioning itself as a pioneer in AI-powered music, with a fully autonomous artist leading the charge.
