Over 200 music artists, including popular stars like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Billie Eilish, have come together to address their concerns about the “predatory use of AI” in the music industry. In an open letter released on Monday, the artists acknowledge the enormous potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance human creativity but caution against the possibility of powerful companies using AI to replace human musicians.
The letter states, “We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem.” The artists are calling on tech companies, AI developers, and digital music services to pledge that they will not develop or utilize AI-powered technology that undermines songwriters and artists or prevents them from receiving fair compensation for their work.
Why AI Raises Concerns for Artists
The concerns raised in the letter may prove challenging to address, as companies may not be willing to comply with the artists’ demands, according to Michael Huppe, the president and CEO of SoundExchange and a music law professor at Georgetown University. Huppe explains that while streaming platforms and tech companies cannot ignore the creative community’s concerns, some may still attempt to use AI without proper licenses or authorization.
The worries intensified when OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced the development of an AI tool that can replicate someone’s voice based on a short audio clip. OpenAI recognized the risks associated with voice cloning technology and stated that the tool has not been made available to the public. They expressed the need for voice authentication experiences and measures to prevent creating voices that resemble prominent figures too closely.
Copyright Laws and AI
Although current U.S. federal copyright laws provide protection against direct copies of artists’ work, they may not adequately protect against AI-generated content that replicates an artist’s voice or sound without directly copying the music or lyrics. Huppe highlights the need to update existing laws to keep pace with AI’s rapid development and prevent irresponsible use of artists’ voices and likenesses.
Tennessee, recognized as a music and entertainment hub, has taken steps to protect musicians from AI voice cloning technology. The state passed the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, expanding existing laws to safeguard artists’ names, images, likeness, and now their voices.
The Potential of AI in the Music Industry
Huppe stresses that AI innovation does not necessarily spell disaster for the music industry. Responsible use of AI technology can lead to collaboration and new opportunities for artists. In order to achieve this, artists’ consent to use their voices in AI-generated music should be obtained, and they should be appropriately compensated and credited.
“As long as you have consent, credit, and compensation, many artists and creators would likely happily collaborate with AI,” says Huppe. “There’s a way to make this work.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main concern of the artists regarding AI in the music industry?
The artists are concerned about the potential “predatory use of AI” to steal their voices and likenesses, violate their rights, and undermine the music ecosystem.
2. What are the artists calling on tech companies to do regarding AI-powered technology?
The artists are calling on tech companies, AI developers, and digital music services to pledge that they will not develop or utilize AI-powered technology that undermines songwriters and artists or prevents them from earning fair compensation for their art.
3. How are copyright laws currently applied to AI-generated content?
Current copyright laws may not adequately protect against AI-generated content that replicates an artist’s voice or sound without directly copying their music or lyrics.
4. How is the state of Tennessee addressing the issue of AI voice cloning technology?
Tennessee has passed the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, which expands existing laws to safeguard artists’ names, images, likeness, and now their voices.
5. Can AI technology be used responsibly in the music industry?
Yes, responsible use of AI technology in the music industry can lead to collaboration and new opportunities for artists, as long as artists give their consent, are properly compensated, and credited for their work.
Sources: CNBC
Over 200 music artists, including popular stars like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Billie Eilish, have come together to address their concerns about the “predatory use of AI” in the music industry. In an open letter released on Monday, the artists acknowledge the enormous potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance human creativity but caution against the possibility of powerful companies using AI to replace human musicians.
The concerns raised in the letter may prove challenging to address, as companies may not be willing to comply with the artists’ demands. Michael Huppe, the president and CEO of SoundExchange and a music law professor at Georgetown University, explains that while streaming platforms and tech companies cannot ignore the creative community’s concerns, some may still attempt to use AI without proper licenses or authorization.
The worries intensified when OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced the development of an AI tool that can replicate someone’s voice based on a short audio clip. OpenAI recognized the risks associated with voice cloning technology and stated that the tool has not been made available to the public. They expressed the need for voice authentication experiences and measures to prevent creating voices that resemble prominent figures too closely.
Although current U.S. federal copyright laws provide protection against direct copies of artists’ work, they may not adequately protect against AI-generated content that replicates an artist’s voice or sound without directly copying the music or lyrics. Huppe highlights the need to update existing laws to keep pace with AI’s rapid development and prevent irresponsible use of artists’ voices and likenesses.
Tennessee, recognized as a music and entertainment hub, has taken steps to protect musicians from AI voice cloning technology. The state passed the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, expanding existing laws to safeguard artists’ names, images, likeness, and now their voices.
Huppe stresses that AI innovation does not necessarily spell disaster for the music industry. Responsible use of AI technology can lead to collaboration and new opportunities for artists. In order to achieve this, artists’ consent to use their voices in AI-generated music should be obtained, and they should be appropriately compensated and credited.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main concern of the artists regarding AI in the music industry?
The artists are concerned about the potential “predatory use of AI” to steal their voices and likenesses, violate their rights, and undermine the music ecosystem.
2. What are the artists calling on tech companies to do regarding AI-powered technology?
The artists are calling on tech companies, AI developers, and digital music services to pledge that they will not develop or utilize AI-powered technology that undermines songwriters and artists or prevents them from earning fair compensation for their art.
3. How are copyright laws currently applied to AI-generated content?
Current copyright laws may not adequately protect against AI-generated content that replicates an artist’s voice or sound without directly copying their music or lyrics.
4. How is the state of Tennessee addressing the issue of AI voice cloning technology?
Tennessee has passed the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, which expands existing laws to safeguard artists’ names, images, likeness, and now their voices.
5. Can AI technology be used responsibly in the music industry?
Yes, responsible use of AI technology in the music industry can lead to collaboration and new opportunities for artists, as long as artists give their consent, are properly compensated, and credited for their work.
Sources: CNBC
