26.08.2024
Record Companies vs Artificial Intelligence
Saving the essence of art or plain greed?
A legal battle
About a month ago, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that Sony, Universal, Warner and other big labels are suing the artificial intelligence song generators Suno and Udio for copyright infringement, on the grounds of exploitation of recorded works.
Their case alleges that Suno and Udio’s software steals already existing music to generate similar songs, and claim that while the music industry is collaborating with responsible AI developers, these unlicensed services exploit artists’ life works for their own profit without consent or pay.
On the other hand, Suno supports that their technology is “designed to generate completely new outputs, not to memorise and regurgitate pre-existing content”.
That’s the story, told as dry as possible. But that’s not why you clicked.
AI in Music: Innovation or Infringement?
Recent developments in AI have been in the epicenter of many conversations in the music industry as well. From its possibilities to concerns about both its legality and its ethics. Can you imagine a new Michael Jackson album for example, or a new Lamar – Drake beef featuring Tupac and Biggie?
Many artists have already voiced their concerns, and 200 of them have signed an open letter submitted by the Artist Rights Alliance, calling on AI companies and others involved, to stop using this technology to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.
But what about the audience and the many aspiring musicians? Opportunity for new people and more content to dive into, or a dystopian landscape that never lets us escape what we already know? Advancements in technology have always played a crucial role in the progress of music, and should continue to do so (e.g. allowing people with disabilities to create), however, this might be the first instance in which no person is involved creatively. Are lyrics (good or bad) an idea of a writer or just words to accompany a tune? Do Johnny Cash’s storytelling or Jarvis Cocker’s unique glance of the world, hold any meaning whatsoever, if ChatGPT can generate something that sounds a bit alike?
Struggles of a modern musician
These, and a plethora of similar questions are legit, and perhaps the main thing we should be discussing -the ethics of A.I. in art. But, unfortunately, there are deeper concerns, about the viability of being a musician. It’s already extremely hard to practice songwriting for a living -it always has been, but streaming has not exactly helped.
All of those not in the spotlight, from session musicians to royalty free music makers –a high percentage of professional musicians– are the first to be threatened, and their relative invisibility renders them in a tough spot.
Furthermore, how can one be inspired to write if they can’t identify with the person behind the work they fell in love with, and what are their chances of “making it” when they have to compete in perpetuity with the likes of a new Tupac or Led Zeppelin album?
Who controls the debate?
However, this article is not trying to be another technophobic take on artificial intelligence. As mentioned before, a measured ethics debate would probably take us to a decent compromise. Well, the problem is that neither the audience, nor the musicians are actually part of this debate. At this point, it looks more like a bras de fer between the big labels and big tech (Suno for example has a partnership with Microsoft) about the royalties for the exploitation of recorded music.
If the record companies could strike a deal with these software companies, or if they had their own tool, would they be concerned with the issues they seem to be? The track record of how they treat both artists and customers is not exactly stellar, and judging by how Hollywood Studios approached a similar topic in the near past, there’s not much to expect.
Anyway, even if the future looks bleak, music has survived and evolved, despite the labels’ grip. And it will continue to do so, as long as you can always pick up an instrument or a microphone, and support your favourite artists.
