AI-Generated Band, The Velvet Sundown, Sparks Controversy with Viral Spotify Success
An AI-generated band, The Velvet Sundown, has garnered over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. This unprecedented achievement has reignited debates about the impact of artificial intelligence on the music industry.
The psychedelic rock “band” was recently confirmed to be entirely AI-generated. This includes not only its music and vocals, but also its promotional imagery. Initially, the project, which is described as “an ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship,” denied using AI. However, the truth was eventually admitted through an updated Spotify bio.
The controversy has sparked concerns across the music industry. The key issues include copyright, human replacement, and the potential for AI-generated content to reduce royalty payments for real artists.
- Major record labels such as Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records have launched lawsuits against AI music platforms Suno and Udio. They accuse these platforms of mass copyright infringement.
- Streaming platform Deezer has implemented AI detection tools. It reports receiving over 20,000 fully AI-generated tracks daily. This comprises 18% of all uploaded content.
The incident underscores the growing challenge of distinguishing between human and AI-created music as the technology becomes increasingly sophisticated.
Source: CNBC