Hozier Reportedly Willing to Strike Over AI Threat in Music Industry

Irish musician Hozier has expressed his willingness to participate in strike actions to address the looming threat of artificial intelligence (AI) within the music industry.

His statements are set against the backdrop of Hollywood actors and writers who have been on an active strike, mainly centered around contractual improvements and safeguards against AI integration.

Strike in the Music Sector?

In an interview with BBC's Newsnight, Hozier revealed his readiness to support analogous strikes in the music sector. He questioned whether AI truly aligns with the essence of art.

Hozier, also known as Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, mused on the philosophical aspect of AI's creative capacity. He contended that AI lacks the ability to produce art based on genuine human experiences, thereby casting doubt on its classification as art.

Unlike their counterparts in Hollywood, musicians have not yet embarked on strike movements concerning the encroaching AI threat. AI has the potential to compose songs or imitate established artists, raising concerns about artistic originality and copyright issues.

Earlier this year, a song employing AI to replicate the voices of Drake and The Weeknd was pulled from streaming platforms due to copyright concerns.

Debating the true artistic nature of AI, Hozier conveyed his uncertainties, asserting that AI cannot replicate the human experience, which is often fundamental to the creation of art.

Deezer Introduces Tech to Identify AI Music

In related news, music streaming service Deezer, renowned for its global platform, is taking strides to ensure equitable and transparent practices in the future of music streaming.

With the rise of AI-generated music content, Deezer is expanding its commitment to assist artists in monetizing their work, combat fraudulent activities, and enhance user experiences for music enthusiasts.

The integration of generative AI in the music realm has sparked concerns regarding intellectual property and creativity. AI models have the ability to convincingly replicate artists' voices, as evidenced by the recent AI-generated collaborations "reuniting" The Beatles.

Jeronimo, Deezer's CEO, underscored the importance of quality and authentic support for artists, given the influx of new tracks being uploaded daily. He emphasized Deezer's responsibility as a streaming platform to establish a transparent and just environment for music consumption.

Jeronimo outlined the company's mission to identify AI-generated content within its platform. Deezer intends to implement tags for music produced by generative AI, starting with songs that employ synthetic voices mimicking established artists.

These tags will serve to inform artists, labels, and users about the legitimacy of the content, combat fraudulent activities, and facilitate a remuneration model that acknowledges various forms of music creation.

While recognizing AI's potential for creative content, Jeronimo emphasized the importance of responsible implementation.