The Future of Music: Will AI Steal the Show?
You’ve probably heard about AI doing amazing things, how it can create anything, even songs that sound just like your favorite artists. Sounds cool, right? But wait, there’s a catch.
From replicating the voices of legends like Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra to mimicking modern stars like Drake, AI can create music that sounds surprisingly real. But what does this mean for the future of music and the artists who create it?
Music is all about creativity and human expression. The music industry’s worried about AI-generated songs that basically copy artists’ voices without their permission. That’s why workers in the entertainment industry, like actors and singers, are joining forces to protect themselves from AI taking over
Good News for Singers and Musicians
Entertainment industry workers, represented by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), reached a preliminary agreement with major record labels like Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. This agreement aims to protect artists from the potential downsides of AI-generated music.
According to a statement on the website of the Hollywood actors’ union — the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) — the “Sound Recordings Agreement” covers the period from 2021 to 2026 and has received unanimous approval from SAG-AFTRA’s executive committee, representing about 160,000 actors and media personnel.
As the music industry faces the challenge of songs produced by generative AI, which allows internet users to easily replicate the voices of artists — frequently without the artists’ permission — the proposed agreement with record labels mandates consent and compensation before releasing songs featuring digital replicas of artists’ voices.
What Does the Deal Mean for Singers?
Under this agreement, terms like “artist,” “singer,” and “royalty artist” explicitly refer to humans, according to SAG-AFTRA. Additionally, the agreement includes improvements in health and retirement benefits, as well as an increase in the portion of streaming revenue allocated to contributions.
This agreement comes at a time when AI technology poses significant concerns in the entertainment industry, following discussions between SAG-AFTRA and major studios in 2023. After months of strikes, negotiations concluded in November with a contract agreement.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator, emphasizes the importance of preserving the authenticity of human expression in music. He stated, “This agreement ensures that our members are protected. While technology can enhance the creative process, the essence of music must always be rooted in genuine human expression and experience.”
Earlier in January, SAG-AFTRA reached another agreement with Replica Studios, an AI voice technology company, regarding the use of AI voices in video games. This agreement grants performers the right to consent and negotiate with the AI company, as well as the ability to opt out of the “continued use” of their voices in “new projects.”
AI in Film
While AI offers immense potential in film, particularly in virtual filmmaking, it also raises concerns about fair credit for industry contributors. Despite its transformative capabilities, the AI protection deal aims to ensure fairness and accountability in the entertainment sector.
The Future of Music
While AI can be a cool tool for music creation, it shouldn’t replace the heart and soul that real artists bring. This agreement helps strike a balance — AI can enhance things, but the core of music should always be human creativity and experience
