Artificial intelligence is transforming the music industry at dizzying speed.
From the automated composition to the analysis of listening trends, via assisted production, AI tools offer artists unpublished possibilities. However, this technological revolution raises crucial questions about copyright and the mastery of creators on their own works.
AI represents undeniable opportunities for musicians. Today it allows any artist, amateur or professional, to produce music with studio quality from a simple computer. What once required expensive infrastructure is now accessible to everyone. Some tools even suggest melodies, refine mixing and generate words. These technical advances can facilitate creativity and give birth to new forms of musical expression.
However, these innovations are accompanied by dangers that it is necessary to supervise with mainly a threat to the rights of artists.
One of the major problems posed by AI in music lies in the use of existing data to generate new songs. Models of artificial intelligence are trained on music catalogs, often without the agreement of the artists concerned. If an AI produces a song inspired by a preexisting work, which holds the rights? Should the original artist perceive part of the income generated by these artificial creations? Today, no clear regulations answer these questions.
In addition, the current economic model of streaming platforms already does not allow musicians to live their art correctly. The massive arrival of content generated by AI risks increasing this precariousness by flooding the automated securities market, further decreasing the visibility and remuneration of real creators.
The United Kingdom is currently the scene of lively controversy around copyright and AI. The British government is considering a modification of the law on copyright by establishing a system of “withdrawal” (“opt-out”) for the use of protected works in IA training. In other words, by default, AI developers could exploit protected content, unless the beneficiaries explicitly express their opposition. A measure which ultimately reverses the very principle of copyright. As a sign of protest, more than 1,000 artists, including Damon Albarn, Kate Bush and Annie Lennox, participated in a silent album symbolizing their opposition to this measure.
This controversy illustrates the challenges posed by AI internationally and highlights the urgency of a more protective regulations for artists.
Artists must be able to keep control over the use of their works by AI. It is not enough to give them the possibility of prohibiting access to their creations, because it is impossible, for an isolated musician, to monitor all players in the sector. Clear legislation must be implemented to guarantee just and equitable remuneration of artists whose music is used to train these models.
Technical solutions already exist. It is possible to trace the pieces exploited by the AI and distribute the income as a function of the percentage of use of the works. But that will only make sense if restrictive measures oblige technological companies to make this information accessible and to respect the rights of artists.
As with any new innovation, it is essential to find a balance between technology and creativity.
Artificial intelligence in music is still in the maturation phase, but its impact will accelerate in the years to come. It is imperative to define an ethical and economic framework before the artists are completely dispossessed of their work.
This technology can enrich musical creation if it is framed fairly. On the other hand, without regulation, it could accelerate the precariousness of artists and question the very essence of music: a human expression above all.
The choice still belongs to us, but we must act quickly.
