According to Billboard, which has obtained an internal memo from the company, Sony Music has created new roles, creating executive vice president of AI and hiring former BPI CEO Jeff Taylor. New roles include “coordinating business activities around artificial intelligence” and “coordinating across Sony’s global digital business and business and legal departments.” It sounds as vague as one might expect when dealing with something constantly changing and amorphous, like AI or executive work.
Below is the full text of the memo sent by Sony Music Entertainment COO Kevin Kelleher.
all,
Artificial intelligence (AI) has huge implications for the future of the music industry, and as a result more attention is needed for AI.
Therefore, we are pleased to welcome Jeff Taylor as our new Executive Vice President of Artificial Intelligence.
Reporting to me, Jeff works closely with the Global Digital Business and Business and Legal departments to coordinate and support the work of all parts of the business that involve AI.
Jeff brings decades of music industry experience to the company. Most recently, from 2007 to 2022, Jeff served as Chief Executive of the UK recorded music industry body, BPI, where he led the fight against piracy and fraud, improving jobs, investment and the UK economy. advocated the strategic importance of recorded music in preserving global competitiveness. Prior to joining BPI, from 2005 until 2007 he was General Counsel and Executive Vice President of IFPI, the global recorded music industry association.
In these roles, Jeff has been with us for several years and we are delighted to have him on board to successfully navigate this pivotal moment in the history of the music industry.
Please welcome Jeff to Sony Music. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jeff. [Sony Music Entertainment Email Redacted].
Kevin
Meanwhile, the Recording Academy last week announced Grammy submission rules for music produced by artificial intelligence, noting that “only human creators are eligible to be considered.” That said, they did offer a caveat that music featuring elements of AI may be eligible if it meets certain requirements.
President and CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told The Hollywood Reporter this week: If you were to give an AI a Grammy, you would even want to know who to give it to. So for now, we’re going to give Grammys to… the human side of creativity. ”
