In June of this year a band completely made up of AI called The Velvet Sundown gained millions of streams on Spotify without listeners realizing it was all AI created. What does this mean for the music industry and radio?
As far as the future of music, what I considered to be a one time thing looks like it will become more popular. Record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group have talked to AI groups like Suno and Udio to consider licensing agreements. What this would mean are a few things:
- Since these AI companies are already making the music, this agreement would help the music become copyrighted and the labels would get paid for it.
- The artists who help develop the sound of the band would be compensated
- Originally, the labels were against AI bands and had lawsuits against a few companies. Realizing they weren’t going to be able to stop it, they decided to try and settle some of those suits.
- Again, knowing they can’t beat ‘em, they decided to join ‘em. Might as well gain equity from this new AI band movement.
Other labels and music groups have started showing interest in signing AI Music Designers. Timbaland now has an AI Record Label Group, Stage One, and signed its first artist, Tata.
Not everyone is on board, though. A group called Artists Rights Alliance with musicians such as Billie Eilish and Jon Bon Jovi signed a letter against “predatory use of AI to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses”. A silent album was created by Damon Albarn, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Paul McCartney, Kat Stevens, Hans Zimmer and many more earlier this in protest to AI musicians.
The introduction of AI musicians can result poorly for actual musicians. It causes shrinking royalty pools by allowing streaming services to add AI “artists.” AI threatens the jobs of songwriters and producers. New artists already struggle for a spot. AI generated music can be produced instantly, making it harder for those up and coming musicians to have a leg in the game. Don’t even get me started on authenticity.
As much of a support artificial intelligence can be, it can also cause hardships for those who have been breaking their backs to have their voice heard withing the music industry.