AI Music Deals: A Familiar Tune?

Remember “BBL Drizzy”? That AI-generated track mimicking Drake felt like a shot across the bow, sparking debates about AI art, likeness rights, and, naturally, copyright. The major labels – UMG, Sony, Warner – responded aggressively. They sued AI music platforms like Udio and Suno, squabbled with TikTok, and even started building AI detection tools.

Yet, something seems to have shifted. We’re now witnessing a potential alliance between the music industry and AI startups, a path toward monetization that’s, well, strikingly similar to the system musicians already struggle with.

KLAY, a new platform, claims it’s not about replacing artists but “uplifting” them. It promises fans new musical experiences while “properly” rewarding artists and songwriters. The devil, as always, is in the details.

A Financial Times report hinted at a streaming-style micropayment system. But haven’t we seen this movie before? Many artists, from indie musicians to Taylor Swift, argue current streaming payouts are a squeeze, with labels reaping most of the profits. How do you fairly divvy up royalties for AI-generated remixes? If a user’s AI-infused Sabrina Carpenter track goes viral on TikTok, who gets the credit and the cash? It’s not straightforward.

This whole AI music landscape feels messy. Spotify admitted to removing 75 million “spammy” tracks in a single year. Consider the case of HAVEN.’s “I Run,” a viral hit yanked from Spotify because some listeners mistook the AI-generated vocals for Jorja Smith. Spotify then added a policy against vocal impersonations. Original songs just sounding like established artists create another legal minefield.

The HAVEN. creators admitted to using Suno for the vocals, but later re-uploaded the track with human vocals. Some fans preferred the AI version!

This could mean a strange future for music consumption. Unlicensed AI tracks mimicking human artists will continue to surface, triggering takedown requests. Platforms like KLAY, with officially sanctioned AI music, will coexist with this “black market.” Songs will be uploaded, removed, altered, creating a tangled web of ownership and compensation.

Essentially, the music industry appears to be adopting a “if we get paid, it’s okay” stance towards AI music based on their artists’ work. This approach might be setting the stage for an even murkier era.

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Keywords: AI music deals, AI music copyright, AI music royalties, AI music platforms, AI music monetization, AI music streaming, AI music industry, AI music artists