Attack of the Voice Clones
Attack of the Voice Clones
Suno paying popular artists, banning phones in nightclubs, and more...
UMG to Clone Artist’s Voices
Earlier this week Universal Music Group announced a deal with AI startup Soundlabs that will allow their artists to use the company’s AI voice model technology.
This essentially gives artists signed to the label the ability to train AI voice models that can be used in several different ways - a couple of examples being translating vocals to another language for songs released in different regions, and also turning their vocals into different types of ‘instruments’.
This also means that in theory these models could be used to create entire songs without the input of the artist in question.
I’m not against the use of AI in music, it’s just another tool in the box that artists can use, but things start to get questionable when you throw in the major label dynamics and how this could dramatically change the role of a major label artist. SoundLabs do state that artists will retain full control over the voice models, but as these tools become more commonplace will this always be the case?
We’re all too familiar with instances where labels have denied artists the ability to release music, but down the line could we see instances where labels will be able to create and release music that the artist didn’t even have a hand in making?
Of course, this is at the more extreme end of speculation, and no doubt AI clauses will be put into place in contracts to prevent this, but it’s not out of the question.
As well as translation for foreign markets, another application for this technology would be to streamline the process of creating reference tracks. Labels can take their reference tracks from producers/songwriters and immediately replace the demo vocals with the artist’s cloned voice to get a more accurate idea of what the song will sound like, allowing them to make quicker decisions on what sounds good.
However this ends up being used, it will be interesting to see which artists are empowered creatively, and which artists are further removed from the creation process.
Elsewhere…
▶️ After raising $125m, AI music generator Suno is now paying its most popular creators
There’s a prize pool of $100,000 shared between the top 500 songs in June (measured in plays, likes, and shares). Let’s hope they’re prepared for the bots 😆
▶️ Trying to Ban Phones in Nightclubs
James Hype tried to play a ‘no phones allowed’ night and ended up with a lot of phones in his face.
▶️ Ibiza festival criticised for charging DJs €5000 to perform
That’s not how it’s supposed to work, is it?
▶️ George Strait smashes US attendance record for ticketed gig
The Texas native drew 110,905 fans to Texas A&M's Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday 15 June
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