Will it be an AI-created track topping the music charts in 2023?
In the ever-evolving world of music, AI is making its mark, and the latest tour sold out by Taylor Swift is just one example of the enduring appeal of live music experiences. But the spotlight is also shining on AI-generated musicians, with FN Meka, an AI-created rapper, making history as the first AI-generated artist signed by a major record label, Capitol Records, in August 2022.
FN Meka, created by Brandon Le in 2019, has garnered significant attention, boasting 10 million followers and over one billion views on TikTok by 2021. The digital artist, appearing as a Black male cyborg, has generated music that resonates with a youthful audience, indicating a potential for huge growth on platforms like TikTok.
However, the rise of AI music is not without controversy. Some musicians view it as a threat to their creative endeavors, while others see it as a tool for democratizing music production, bypassing the need for formal music education. The line between human and AI-created music blurs, raising questions about creativity, artistry, and what it means to be a musician.
The charts have always been a receptacle for all forms of music, and this is likely to continue with the rise of AI music. AI music may follow the path of synth pop bands in the 1980s, receiving criticism before becoming world-famous chart toppers. Yet, emotional depth, a criterion often used to measure the quality of music, may not be the best benchmark for AI-generated music.
The potential impacts of an AI-generated number 1 single are profound. It could disrupt and democratize the music industry, challenging the traditional studio and label system. However, it could also lead to challenges in authenticity and creativity, copyright, legal, and ethical issues, and pressure on human musicians’ livelihoods. Advocates seek clearer labeling of AI-generated songs and updated copyright laws to address the new realities introduced by AI music creation.
The debate around AI music is far from over. Critics argue that songs arise from human suffering and internal struggle, as Nick Cave famously stated when he criticized AI-generated lyrics as a "replication as travesty". Yet, the charts have always been a receptacle for all forms of music, and this is likely to continue with the rise of AI music.
The story of FN Meka ended in ignominy, being dropped by Capitol Records just two days after being signed amid controversy. Yet, the rise of AI music is not a passing trend. It is a significant shift in the music industry that is forcing industry stakeholders, artists, and listeners to reconsider music creation, consumption, and rights in the digital age.
References:
- The Rise of AI Music: Implications for the Music Industry
- AI Music: The Future of the Music Industry
- The AI Music Revolution: The Impact on the Music Industry
- The Ethical Implications of AI in the Music Industry
The digital age has seen AI break into the music industry, with FN Meka, an AI-created rapper, becoming the first AI-generated artist signed by a major label, Capitol Records. The impact of AI-generated music on the industry is profound, potentially disrupting and democratizing the traditional studio and label system, while raising questions about creativity, artistry, and authenticity.
As AI music continues to evolve, its presence in the media and business spheres is growing, especially on platforms like TikTok. Yet, the debate surrounding AI music is far from over, with critics arguing that human emotion and internal struggle are integral to music, and AI creation may lack these elements.
In the face of this shift, stakeholders in the music industry are called to reconsider music creation, consumption, and rights, and advocates seek clearer labeling of AI-generated songs and updated copyright laws to address the new realities introduced by AI music creation.
