AI-Generated Music: Controversy and Industry Implications

A recent controversy has emerged in the music industry surrounding AI-generated music. This follows the success of an AI-generated country song titled Walk My Walk, which reached No. 1 on Billboard's country digital song sales chart.

The song was credited to a fictional artist named Breaking Rust, a white digital avatar created just two months prior. However, the vocal style and melodic elements of the song were based on the work of Grammy-nominated country artist Blanco Brown, a Black artist known for his hit The Git Up.

Brown was unaware of the song until he received a barrage of messages from fans informing him that a white version of him had been created through AI technology. He expressed his shock, stating, 'They just used the Blanco, not the Brown.' The song's creator, Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, is also linked to several AI-generated artists and has connections to Brown's past collaborator, Abraham Abushmais.

Brown noted that he had not been informed of their involvement and that Abushmais had become unreachable. He described the situation as uncomfortable, pointing out that it features 'a white AI man with a Black voice' singing in a manner reminiscent of a Negro spiritual.

In response, Brown recorded his own version of the song. He plans to release a reworked derivative, emphasizing the need for accountability in the music industry regarding AI-generated content. Music educators and industry experts recognize that AI tools have transformed music creation but highlight the absence of legal and ethical frameworks.

Major record labels have begun to take action, with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group negotiating licensing agreements to protect artists' rights. Josh Antonuccio, director of the Ohio University Music Industry Summit, stated that AI has democratized music creation but lacks guardrails.

Music educators assert that AI cannot replicate the emotional connection between artists and their audiences. Shelton Shelly Berg from the University of Miami highlighted that while AI-generated tracks can be polished, they do not convey the intangible aspects of a genuine performance.

Brown maintains that he is not opposed to AI but believes the industry must recognize the value of human creativity. He asserts that real artists will always prevail, stating, 'Purpose lives where greed can't.' This incident underscores the urgent need for the music industry to address the implications of AI technology on ownership and artistic integrity.