Google and Universal Music are currently engaged in negotiations to secure a deal involving AI ‘deepfake’ generated songs, according to the Financial Times. This endeavor seeks to address the music industry’s challenge of monetizing the rise of AI technology and its impact on the creation of music. Discussions are ongoing, aiming to establish a partnership in this evolving landscape.
The emergence of generative AI technology has led to a surge in ‘deepfake’ songs that mimic established artists’ voices and styles, often without their consent. These AI-generated tracks have raised concerns within the industry.
Last year August Capitol Records severed ties with the A.I. rapper FN Meka, following backlash over the deal signed with the robot who uses racial slurs.
The activist group @industryblkout called for a formal public apology.
The record label signed a rapper designed from Artificial Intelligence even as many fans expressed indifference to the manufactured rapper, especially its’ use of certain words.
FN Meka’s debut single “Florida Water” was a collaboration with top-charting artist Gunna, who pled guilt to RICO charges.
The talks between Google and Universal Music are still in early stages, and while there is no immediate product launch expected, reports are that the goal is to develop a legitimate tool for fans to create AI-generated tracks with the option for artists to opt-in and receive compensation for their copyrighted works.
Warner Music, another major label, has also been exploring similar possibilities with Google.
Music industry executives draw parallels between the rise of AI-generated songs and the early days of YouTube, when users incorporated copyrighted music into their videos. Eventually, a system was established to compensate the music industry for user-generated content. As AI technology gains traction, concerns among established artists grow regarding the potential dilution of their original works.
Universal Music took action to remove an AI-produced song that mimicked the voices of Drake and The Weeknd, citing copyright infringement. Other artists, like Grimes, have embraced AI technology and offered their voices for AI-generated songs. The chief executive of Warner Music, Robert Kyncl, emphasized the potential for AI to enable new forms of user-driven content, including cover versions and mash-ups.
Lyor Cohen, who leads YouTube’s music division, has been involved in the project for Google. In January, Google showcased AI-powered music software that generated music from text descriptions. While it initially had no plans for a commercial release, Google later introduced an experimental tool called MusicLM in collaboration with artists.
Both Google and Universal Music declined to comment on the ongoing discussions.
