A recent forum in Beijing explored ways to explore the use and legal challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in the music business.
At the 8th Music Industry Forum in Beijing on May 19, 2023, guest speakers discuss the impact of AI and the legal issues it can cause. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
Kwee Tian Ang, senior vice president of public policy for Asia at Universal Music Group (UMG), said, “First, AI should not be treated as a mere crisis because it has the potential to bring a lot of benefits and value. I think,’ he said. “Many songwriters and producers are leveraging AI technology for innovation. Our stance is that if you want to use our work, you must first obtain permission and use it legally.”
Singaporean singer Stephanie Sun has been trending on Chinese social media platforms in recent weeks, but not for a new album or concert, but for an AI-generated version of her voice.
UMG wrote to music-streaming companies as early as March, urging them to prevent AI companies from using their work for training purposes, Ahn said. They also helped some artists by sending them cease and desist letters to remove their AI-generated works. Ann emphasized that UMG has a responsibility to protect artists’ rights and works. However, the preferences of individual artists and songwriters are also taken into consideration, with some artists agreeing to share their work on a 50/50 basis, while others insist on having their work removed entirely.
At the 8th Music Industry Forum held on May 19th, hosted by China Propaganda University (CUC), a discussion session was held on the theme of “Music production and copyright protection in the age of generative artificial intelligence.” We got a lot of attention. Besides Mr. An, another prominent speaker who attended the session was Mr. Guo Biao, IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) Chief Representative for China and Regional Director for Greater China. Cherry Guo, former in-house legal adviser of IFPI and senior partner of Tiantai Law Firm. Professor Tong Xuena of CUC College of Music and Recording Arts. Fan Cong, a prominent young musical theater director and songwriter from China. And Mr. Fan Zhihui, music industry analyst who is the host of the session.
The rapid development of generative AI technology has transformed music production. AI algorithms like OpenAI’s GPT-4 generate complex creative content such as poetry and music. Artists’ reactions have been mixed. While some see AI as a tool to enhance creativity, others worry that AI will undermine human artistry. Governments are grappling with the impact of generative AI and its challenges to copyright law. Key issues today include authorship, ownership, and whether AI-generated music is derivative or entirely new. The use of copyrighted material as input raises the question of immunity from infringement.
Universal executive Ann stressed the importance of the government avoiding new exceptions for misuse. He cited talks with the Singapore government and warned against rushing to enforce the law without understanding the technology. In November 2021, the Singapore Copyright Act will be amended to include the introduction of broadtext and data mining exceptions aimed at improving the availability of AI training data. He said the Singapore government was aware of their hasty actions. He therefore opposed any further exemptions, stressed the adequacy of existing laws, and emphasized the importance of obtaining licenses and paying royalties.
And while copyright law generally mandates that human songwriters retain rights, complications arise when copyright is owned by companies rather than individuals in the audiovisual field. Therefore, authorities should consider these factors carefully when enacting legislation. He also emphasized the need to have rightsholders represent themselves during legal changes and research, as communication with authors and rightsholders is inadequate in certain countries, he said.
China’s IFPI Chief Representative Guo Biao emphasized the aggressive regulation of AI by the China Cyberspace Authority (CAC). He believes the CAC’s measures are aimed at regulating AI applications, promoting sound development, and addressing data security and intellectual property rights. This aggressive approach by the Chinese government recognizes the risks and emphasizes the importance of respecting intellectual property rights, he said.
Cherry Guo of Tiantai Law Firm also said that China’s current copyright law is not suitable for the use of copyrighted materials in the pre-training stage of AI, lacks provisions on fair use, and is considered fair use domestically. He pointed out the lack of legal support for youth. She said AI should always be seen as a tool used by humans. However, due to imperfect laws and regulations, ethical and moral considerations must be considered. With rapid advances in AI, it is important that practitioners carefully judge what is acceptable and allow AI to serve humans rather than replace them.
From the perspective of creativity and industry, Professor Tong Shuena emphasized the need to embrace the development of new technologies with an inclusive attitude as they bring both challenges and opportunities. She said the unstoppable increase in AI-generated productions should be welcomed, not opposed, and cooperation between AI and the music industry would lead to upgrades, synergies, and diverse responses.
Songwriter Hwang Chung has used AI technology in the early stages of creating song demos for inspiration, but says he prefers to sing the demos himself or have a professional singer join in. admitted to liking He believes music should have a vibrant, living quality that AI can’t truly capture. Emotions and creative inspiration are inherently human and cannot be fully expressed in AI-generated compositions. He believes that any discussion of the replacement of professional composers and creators is premature and impossible, as human imperfections contribute to music’s unique properties.
The 2022 report on the development of China’s music industry was also released at the forum, showing that the total scale of the music industry in 2021 will reach about 378.76 billion yuan ($54.9 billion), a year-on-year growth of 8.54%. , emphasized that it has returned to unprecedented levels. pre-pandemic levels. In addition, the forum explored various themes such as the resilience of Chinese music festivals, the integration of technological innovation and the music industry, talent development in the fields of music production and communication, the innovation and popularization of ethnic music culture, and the present and future. rice field. about music broadcasting.
