Billie Eilish, Pearl Jam, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Elvis Costello, Darius Rucker, Jason Isbell, Luis Fonsi, Miranda Lambert and the estates of Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra are among the 200-plus signed in one I open a letter targeting tech companies, digital service providers and AI developers for irresponsible AI practices, calling such work an “assault on human creativity” that “must stop.”
The letter, issued by the non-profit Artist Rights Alliance, calls on these organizations to “stop using artificial intelligence (AI) to violate and undermine the rights of human artists,” stressing that any use of AI is done with responsibility. “Make no mistake: we believe that, when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a way that enables the growth and development of new and exciting experiences for music lovers everywhere. Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are using AI to undermine creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rights holders.”
Artists, songwriters and producers from all genres, many generations and many continents added their names to the letter, from younger artists like Ayra Starr to legends like Smokey Robinson and organizations like HYBE. In particular, the signatories point to the use of artificial intelligence models trained on unlicensed music, which they call “efforts aimed directly at replacing the work of human artists with vast amounts of AI-generated 'sounds' and 'images' that substantially reduce rights. pools paid to artists. For many working musicians, artists and songwriters just trying to make ends meet, this would be devastating.”
“Working musicians are already struggling to make ends meet in the streaming world and now have the added burden of trying to compete with a deluge of AI-generated noise.” Jen Jacobsen, executive director of the Artist Rights Alliance, said in a statement accompanying the letter. “The unethical use of genetic artificial intelligence to replace human artists will devalue the entire music ecosystem — for artists and fans alike.”
Over the past year or so, many in the music industry have echoed similar calls for the ethical and responsible use of AI, which, left unchecked, has the potential to undermine copyright law and create issues such as streaming fraud, audio errors and theft intellectual property. rampant, much faster. There have been congressional hearings on the issue, and states like Tennessee have begun introducing and passing legislation hoping to protect creators and intellectual property owners from deception and fraud by expanding the laws and addressing fair use. Universal Music Group has set up a task force to address the issue, and UMPG cited TikTok's AI approach as one of the reasons for the ongoing standoff between the two companies, while the RIAA, Warner Music Group and others have weighed in on all of them stressing that protecting IP from unauthorized AI overreach is paramount.
“We must protect ourselves against the aggressive use of artificial intelligence to steal the voices and likenesses of professional artists, infringe on the rights of creators, and destroy the music ecosystem,” the letter concludes. “We call on all digital music platforms and music-based services to commit not to develop or deploy AI music production technology, content or tools that undermine or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists, or deny us fair compensation for work. “
Read the entire letter and see the list of signatories here.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/business/tech/open-letter-ai-music-signed-billie-eilish-pearl-jam-nicki-minaj-1235647311/
