Artificial Intelligence in the music industry — creative or calamitous?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making waves in multiple industries. One, in particular, is the music industry. AI music generators have been going viral for their controversial ability to use artists’ voices and to cover another artist’s song, or to make an entirely new song.

Last month, TikTok user Ghostwriter977 uploaded a song to social media platforms and music apps called “Heart on My Sleeve.” Ghostwriter977 used AI to mimic the vocals and sounds of Drake and The Weeknd, getting millions of plays before being taken down. On behalf of the artists, Universal Music Group (UMG) pulled the track on every platform, although the sound can still be found online. UMG released several statements calling AI-generated content “infringing” and “a violation of copyright law.”

It is unfair to musical artists to have their sound and voices ripped off by technology. While the use of AI in the music industry can bring a creative and unique outlook, its use should be regulated to protect artists’ creative output and livelihood.

Financial exploitation is a primary concern. Artists face the unfair possibility of having their voices used without compensation to cover AI-generated songs.

“It’s like me taking a book and creating another book based off the artist’s writing style and making money off their name. So it’s not okay,” said Santa Monica College student Preston Halbert.

However, others argue that the songs being created using an artist's voice to cover them by AI is no different than if the labels were to make the songs themselves.

“The things about labels is for example, Snow White, the voice actor got her voice copyrighted by Disney. She was not allowed to sing for anything unless it was for Disney,” said SMC student Alejandro Garcia. “So what makes that different from AI? You get profit but not as much as you wanted to receive.”

The difference between AI and the Snow White voice actor is that she had an option for her voice to be used. Although the voice actor of Snow White might not have gotten a fair pension for the use of her voice, she was aware of what Disney was doing. Artists who fall victim to the use of AI voice generators don’t have that luxury of knowing about their voice being used or getting compensated for it.

AI generated music also has the potential to damage an artist’s reputation. An artist could hypothetically be canceled if their voice were used in a song with problematic or insensitive language. With AI technology, an artist's career could be jeopardized by lyrics that they did not write.

Despite the effects that it can have on an artist's reputation, some artists have expressed an interest in producing AI-generated music.

Independent electro-pop artist Grimes recently announced on Twitter that she supports people who want to use her voice to make new music. She offered a 50% split of royalties if an AI-generated song using her voice became profitable.

“Feel free to use my voice without penalty,” she wrote.

AI music generators may be an interesting creative asset, but it comes with certain dangers that could significantly affect the music industry, and it is clear that something as powerful as AI should be used with caution.

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