AI in Music: A Tough Gig for Artists: Exploring the Impact of AI on the Music Industry
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AI's Impact on the Music Sector: Reevaluating Importance of Mass Overcraftsmanship - Shift from traditional music classes to mass production through AI: Implications for the music industry.
The era of computers generating music at the touch of a button is already here, but here's the catch: they're using human artists' work as templates, without their authorization.
Streaming service Deezer already receives 20,000 AI-created songs daily, as stated by the provider in April. While these tracks may not match human quality, according to German singer Levina in a dpa interview, the real problem lies in the sheer volume of music on streaming platforms that artists must compete with to stand out. "And when so much of it is AI-generated, it makes it even harder," explains the artist, who serves as chair of a musicians' rights council in the UK.
No payment for AI training - "That's simply not fair"
Musicians, in general, aren't vehemently against the use of AI; rather, they take issue with their songs being taken by providers where "a lot of heart and soul has gone into—where personal stories have flowed," says German guitarist Christopher Annen of the musicians' association Pro Musik. "And then a company develops an app with which they make millions and billions in revenue—that's simply not fair."
The unequal distribution of income has long been a problem for musicians. AI is merely a "rampant accelerant for a slow-burning fire," states Matthias Hornschuh of the "Copyright Initiative." On today's dominant streaming platforms, a considerable number of incomes have been missing for years for the majority. A study subsidized by the federal government reports that, in 2023, 75 percent of all streaming service revenues went to only 0.1 percent of the artists.
The performing rights organization Gema is concerned that AI may worsen the situation. With around 95,000 members in the German music industry, a study by Gema and its French counterpart Sacem from January 2024 predicts that 27 percent of creators' earnings are at risk, resulting in losses of over 2.7 billion euros in Germany and France by 2028.
AI plagiarism of Helene Fischer and "Mambo No. 5"?
Gema is now taking those earnings to court. Since last year, the organization has been pursuing the provider of ChatGPT, OpenAI. In January, it also filed a lawsuit against the US company Suno, whose AI program has almost perfectly reproduced original tracks. Gema has succeeded in doing this with well-known songs like "Breathless Through the Night" by Helene Fischer or "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega—in Gema's opinion, clear evidence that the provider has trained its AI with these songs and is infringing on the rights of the authors.
Songwriters and composers are particularly dependent on the money that Gema pays them, says Hornschuh. AI providers must meet their responsibility and pay for it—a move that would benefit the companies themselves, as they constantly require fresh, human-produced music to train their AI models.
AI Labeling Required
Artists agree that more transparency is needed. For instance, streaming services should identify which music is generated by AI, as demanded by Levina. In general, artists need to be privy to more information about payments. "No one knows exactly what's happening behind the scenes and where the money is going," she says. Therefore, it's crucial for artists to continue advocating for their rights, as Levina suggests, because if they don't, "the music industry could further deteriorate."
However, Annen disagrees that AI can replicate one thing: emotion. Listening to music helps us feel less alone knowing that someone else has experienced the same emotion, says Annen. A piece entirely generated by a machine cannot elicit those feelings, he says, "because the AI didn't undergo heartache."
- Music
- Artists
- Streaming
- Computer
- Music Industry
- At the Push of a Button
- Streaming Services
- AI-generated Music
AI's Impact on Artists' Earnings and Rights
The AI music industry significantly impacts artists' earnings and rights, primarily by challenging traditional models of creative compensation and intellectual property control.
- While creativity remains an essential aspect of AI models, AI's use is leading to unlicensed exploitation and unlawful appropriation of human artists' works and financial gains.
- AI models trained on vast amounts of human-created music generate competition in the already oversaturated streaming market, further eroding artists' earnings.
- The AI market, expected to expand from $3.3 billion to $71 billion by 2028, primarily benefits large tech companies, with artists receiving negligible compensation.
Measures for Transparency and Fair Compensation
- Urgent policy changes, including the review of copyright and intellectual property laws, are suggested to regulate AI use in music, ensuring that creators' collaborative works and contributions are legally protected and fairly compensated.
- Increased transparency regarding AI training practices and data sets is essential to uphold integrity and accountability in AI-generated music production.
- Artists and creators should be given a voice in shaping AI policies, protecting creative rights, employment opportunities, and fair pay in the evolving music landscape.
In summary, while AI has considerable challenges for the music industry's artists' earnings and intellectual property rights, ongoing efforts by industry stakeholders aim to ensure transparency, regulate AI practices, and establish fair compensation systems to safeguard creators in the ever-changing music landscape.
- The surge in AI-generated music threatens to undermine the earnings and rights of artists, as AI models are often trained using human-created music without compensation.
- The increasing reliance on AI in the music industry could exacerbate issues of transparency and lack of control over intellectual property rights for artists.
- Policymakers, industry stakeholders, and artists must collaborate to address these concerns by enacting fair compensation systems, ensuring transparency in AI training practices, and reviewing copyright and intellectual property laws to protect artists and their creative works.
