More than 200 prominent musicians have joined in signing an open letter to advocate for protections against the predatory use of artificial intelligence to mimic human artists’ likeness, voice, and sound. The signatories come from various musical genres and eras, including popular stars like Billie Eilish, J Balvin, and Nicki Minaj, as well as icons like Stevie Wonder and REM from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The estates of Frank Sinatra and Bob Marley have also signed the letter.
The letter was published by Artist Rights Alliance. Advocacy groups have urged technology companies to commit to not developing AI tools that undermine or replace human songwriters and artists.
The letter emphasizes the need to protect human creativity from being exploited by AI, stating, “We need to stop the predation of AI to steal the voices and likenesses of professional artists, violate the rights of creators, and disrupt the music ecosystem.”
While the letter does not advocate for a complete ban on AI in music and production, it acknowledges that responsible use of the technology can benefit the industry. Music producers have been utilizing AI tools in various ways, including isolating vocals from old demo tracks, as seen in a project creating a new Beatles song from John Lennon’s vocals.
The Artist Rights Alliance’s letter is part of a larger industry-wide response to the ethical and legal implications of generative AI technologies, especially in relation to copyright infringement and workers’ rights. Artist unions, advocacy groups, and studios are actively working to regulate the use of AI in music and production.
Concerns have been raised about AI being used to create songs, scripts, images, and videos, including deepfake pornographic content of artists like Taylor Swift. Lawmakers are introducing legislation to address the misuse of AI, with recent laws criminalizing non-consensual AI creations of sexual images. Companies using artists’ work to train AI models without permission are also under scrutiny.
In response, Tennessee enacted the Portrait, Voice, and Image Security Act, known as the “Elvis Act”, to protect musicians from unauthorized use of AI-generated vocal likenesses for commercial purposes. The debate extends to posthumous use of artists’ likenesses, as AI tools are capable of creating realistic representations based on old footage.
As AI tools become more ubiquitous, musicians are taking a stand on acceptable uses of artificial intelligence. Some artists see generative AI as a tool for experimentation, while others express concerns about imitations of their musical styles.
The Artist Rights Alliance, led by music industry veterans like director Roseanne Cash, has garnered support from a wide range of artists, including country stars, rappers, and indie pop musicians. Estate organizations representing deceased artists have also signed the letter, reflecting the ongoing debate in the entertainment industry about posthumous use of artists’ likenesses through AI.
The intersection of AI and music continues to raise complex ethical and legal questions, with artists and industry stakeholders advocating for responsible use of technology to protect artistic integrity and creativity.
Source: www.theguardian.com
