Creating a commotion a few months ago, Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, announced the organization’s renowned Grammy Awards would finally accept music made with artificial intelligence (AI).
With many individuals initially confused, the CEO clarified that only humans can submit to the Grammy Awards, but AI could be used in the creative process.
“It’s a bit of a fine line, but that’s going to evolve,” he stated about how the Academy is assessing the use of artificial intelligence in music. “My hope is that we can continue to celebrate human creativity at the highest level.”
The rise of AI has infiltrated almost every aspect of individuals’ daily routines – including the arts. With everyone questioning: Will AI replace me? And within music – what happens to copyright? Royalties? Will all the hard work I’ve put into my craft pay off?
Mason acknowledged there are fears and concerns across the industry, and some artists are already sending cease-and-desist letters to get unauthorized deepfakes of themselves removed. However, some artists are excited and optimistic about the doors AI-use opens as long as they get paid.
“I wholeheartedly believe that AI in music shouldn’t even exist,” musician Devante, the Artist, stated. “AI should really only be used for simple daily tasks. As an artist, the ‘AI is taking over the world’ take is very real these days. Music is my world and now it’s all too easy for someone to masquerade as something it’s taken my whole life to be.”
“I think a lot of musicians, particularly the ones who haven’t ‘made it,’ are taking a glass-half-empty perspective on AI,” a musician who also works for a Big Tech company told TechCrunch. Due to not having permission from his employer to speak on the matter, the musician asked to remain anonymous but further stated, “Just as the industrial revolution did not lead to widespread unemployment and quite the opposite, more creatives, especially musicians, should flip their mindset and lean in.”
According to Mason, AI is already being used in the music industry to master and equalize sounds. The biggest worries now surround ensuring individuals get the proper approvals to use an artist’s work, making sure humans are credited separately from AI, and ensuring people are getting paid fairly.
There is a push for more legislation within the music industry to address the use of AI. Unfortunately, the pressing matter is moving more quickly than the law.
Last month, Donald Trump found himself in hot legal water after using unauthorized AI images of Taylor Swift to help promote his presidential campaign. With legislation still so new, there was no precedent on appropriately protecting an artist like Swift in this situation.
While some US AI purveyors believe in a more relaxed attitude toward the use of technology in its early days, arguing that too many restrictions could limit innovation, others are looking at it from a societal standpoint, wanting security against AI’s impact on people when not monitored.
They feel a disconnect between what is being done to regulate AI and what should be done. Devante, the Artist, wants to see the growth of AI slowed down or find more innovative ways to protect music, like a filter that can differentiate AI vocals from human ones.
Devante, the Artist, feels disconnected and needs more clarity on what is being done to regulate AI and what should be done. He wants to see the development of AI slowed down or see innovation that can help protect music, such as a filter that can differentiate AI vocals from human ones.
Mason stated, “As it comes to our industry and the creative community, there’s still a concern… There’s uncertainty because there just doesn’t seem to be protections in place.” Further sharing about AI, “We’ll make great music with the new technology. But I just want to make sure it’s done in a way that’s fair to the human creators.”
