Artificial intelligence has been a massive threat to artists since it emerged in the market, and it stems from different industries, but there are now leads to Google in talks with record labels to license its AI for music. What does this mean exactly is in a gray area, especially as these are still in early talks and there are no concrete outputs or products to arrive.
That being said, the rise of AI music covers of different artists singing famous songs are on the rise in various social media platforms, particularly in TikTok.
Google AI Music in Talks with Record Labels
Reports are now swirling in regarding the rise of AI in music, as Google is allegedly in talks with the Universal Music Group regarding the licensing and other arrangements to use artificial intelligence. Sources familiar with the advancements claim that UMG is discussing this new direction with Google, towards the use of generative AI.
However, earlier this year, it has been a massive fight for the music industry, particularly with record labels, in denouncing the use of AI to produce music without the proper licenses and rights.
Universal Music is known for its massive artists including Drake, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, SZA, and Kendrick Lamar, alongside the licensing of Reprise Records' Frank Sinatra catalog to UMG.
Licensing AI in Music with Labels?
However, it is not only Universal that is in the league regarding this new direction of record labels in licensing the voices and melodies of artists to Google's AI. Ars reported that Warner Music is also in early talks with the internet company's AI generator, citing the sources that held information regarding these talks.
The goal is to license music to AI so that users who generate new songs can use it legally, but would have to pay to get the service, which would then proceed to the artists and people who have royalties.
The Rise of AI in Music
There are massive posts on social media platforms regarding AI covers or unreleased songs from artists, including unforeseen collaborations with other singers that did not exist, but technology made it happen. One of the most recent trending posts on TikTok and initially uploaded on Spotify was "Heart On My Sleeve," a song that AI made featuring Drake and The Weeknd's vocals.
However, this collab did not happen in real life and Spotify took it down.
Earlier this year, Google released the "MusicLM," an AI-based music generator that could turn any song into various genres available in the industry, and it has since become the subject of controversy.
With Google's tech and all the other AI music generators, it has become possible to use artists' vocals for other pop culture songs, centering on the massive AI covers.
It was record labels who first denounced this idea as this tech learned on the massive database of the internet without permission, taking artists' voices and using it to create anew. However, sources claim that the likes of Universal Music Group and Warner Music are in talks with Google's AI tech for the industry, for the future of music.
