AI is reshaping the music industry, and Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Imogen Heap reveals what this moment really means for creators. Join host Kristin Robinson as she uncovers how technology and artistry have been merging for two decades, the rise of generative AI, and why it’s becoming harder to tell where human creativity ends and machine production begins.
Heap explains the urgent need for better metadata, identity layers, and author search tools, and what is needed to set the right standards before AI is fully integrated into the music industry. She talks about the possibility of labels signing AI artists, the fears and misconceptions surrounding AI-generated work, and why she believes art matters if it resonates, no matter how it’s made. Heap also reflects on building an independent career, the flaws of traditional major label deals, and the innovation behind the Mi.Mu glove while envisioning a future of human-driven music in an AI-driven era.
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Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.
Christine Robinson:
When AI becomes the next pop star, who will steal the show? The artist or the algorithm? You may have seen recent headlines about so-called AI artists, artists who rely heavily on AI tools such as images, sounds, and musical models to create their songs. For example, there is an artist named Zania Monet. He recently signed a record deal and is climbing the gospel charts and playing on radio stations across the country.
Meanwhile, many of the songs in the top 10 of last week’s country sales charts also came from these kinds of AI artists. At a time when AI-generated songs seem to be exploding, popping up everywhere from TikTok trends to Billboard charts, it felt like the perfect time to take a deep dive into how this will impact artists, and what we can do to protect human creativity in the process. And I couldn’t think of a better guest to join me here today to discuss this topic than Imogen Heap. Welcome to On the Record, our music business podcast. signboard and Sickbird Productions. As always, I’m your host, Kristin Robinson. We’re thrilled to have Imogen Heap on the show today to talk about the rise of generative AI and how it’s impacting artists. Imogen is a multi-Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and technologist who has been making music for over 20 years. And it is clear that she is still somehow a few steps ahead of the others.
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