Artists Express Concerns About AI in Music Creation
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make its mark on various industries, the music industry is embracing its transformative capabilities while remaining cautious about potential risks for artists. A recent survey conducted by Pirate, a private music studio house, found that 53% of respondents have concerns about how their audience might perceive music created with the assistance of AI.
The survey involved 1,141 artists from the United Kingdom, United States, and Germany, including band members, singer-songwriters, producers, instrumentalists, and rappers. It revealed that only 25% of artists have experience with AI technology in the studio. However, 46% stated that they are open to considering its use in the future.
Christoph Krey from the band MYAI shared that they already use AI for 30% of their activities and refer to the remaining 70% as “art intelligence.” Krey acknowledged that it can be challenging for artists to incorporate AI into their creative process because it adds another task to their workload.
Understanding AI’s Potential in Music Creation
David Borrie, co-founder and CEO of Pirate, understands why artists may hesitate to use AI and publicly acknowledge its involvement. However, he compared AI to autotune, which initially faced criticism but eventually became a staple in contemporary music production.
Borrie believes that AI’s journey toward becoming a standard tool in music creation may follow a similar path as artists and audiences adapt to this innovation. The survey also highlighted that AI is most useful in songwriting and composition.
The Challenges with AI-Generated Music
There have already been controversies surrounding the recognition of music created using AI. An artist who incorporated an AI-generated vocal track from rapper Drake in a viral song attempted to submit the piece for nomination. However, the Academy rejected it due to copyright infringement concerns.
The Academy stated that the topic of AI is complex and rapidly evolving. To be eligible for official nomination, human creators must produce the primary components of tracks. For example, a track must be performed by a human to win an award for vocal performance.
Industry Response to AI Usage
Major labels in the music industry, such as Universal Music, are actively monitoring AI usage. Universal Music has partnered with Google to combat AI deep fakes of its artists and has petitioned streaming services like Spotify to remove AI-generated tracks from their platforms.
Hot Take: Artists Grapple with the Role of AI in Music Creation
While artists express concerns about how their audience perceives AI-assisted music creation, there is potential for AI to become a standard tool in the industry, similar to autotune. However, challenges arise regarding copyright and recognition when using AI-generated elements in compositions. The music industry is navigating these complexities by establishing rules that require human involvement in key aspects of music production. As technology continues to evolve, artists and audiences will need to adapt and embrace the possibilities offered by AI.
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