- By Mark Savage
- Music correspondent for BBC News
Sting has sold over 100 million albums over his 45-year career.
Sting says musicians face a “battle” to protect their work from the rise of songs written by artificial intelligence.
“The building blocks of music belong to us humans,” he told the BBC.
“Protecting human capital from AI is going to be a battle we all will have to fight in the coming years.”
His comments come after many of the songs used artificial intelligence to “clone” the vocals of famous artists.
The latter was removed from the streaming service following a copyright infringement claim from Universal Music Group (UMG), the label that also releases Sting’s music.
“It’s like watching a movie with CGI. It doesn’t impress me at all,” Sting said.
“I get bored quickly when I see computer-generated images, and I think I feel the same way when AI makes music.
“Maybe electronic dance music would work, but if it’s a song that expresses emotion, I don’t think it will move me.”
A ghost in a machine?
Sting spent 30 minutes with the BBC on a variety of subjects, including his approach to songwriting.
The recording industry quickly launched a campaign against artificial intelligence, launching an organization called the “Human Artistry Campaign” to see AI companies violate copyrights by training software with commercially available music. I warned you.
Whether AI-generated music is copyrightable is still under debate. Under UK copyright law, for example, AI-generated works could theoretically be protected.
However, the U.S. Copyright Office recently ruled that AI art, including music, cannot be copyrighted because it “is not the product of human authorship.”
Not everyone is against technology. Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant recently suggested that AI could help musicians overcome the writer barrier.
“There’s a song that we wrote the chorus for in 2003, but we didn’t finish it because we couldn’t think of anything about the verse,” he told Radio Times.
“But now with AI, you can give it what you wrote and press a button to fill in the blanks. Then you can rewrite it, but it can still be a tool. “
Sting agreed to some extent with Tennant’s observations.
“Tools are useful, but we need to leverage them,” he said. “I don’t think we can let machines just take over. We have to be vigilant.”
Change this to a less blurry version
legendary career
The musician spoke on Thursday ahead of the UK’s prestigious Ivor Novello Composition Award ceremony, which will receive the organization’s highest honor.
Only 23 others have been made Fellows of the Ivor Academy, with other winners including British legends Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Elton John and Annie Lennox.
“Like something from Lord of the Rings? The Fellowship,” joked Starr. “But winning a composition award means a lot to me because that’s what I wrote in my passport. I’m a songwriter.”
The Newcastle-born musician began his career as a member of The Police before becoming a solo artist in 1984.
“I wanted to start over,” he said of his decision to break up the band at the height of its fame. “When you’re in a band, it has to sound recognizable. So as a songwriter, I was trapped.
He added that there was “a certain amount of risk” in his solo career. “But I wasn’t risking my life or anything. I don’t think you can succeed in music without taking risks.”
The musician has sold over 100 million albums throughout his career, including “Message In A Bottle,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Fields Of Gold,” “Englishman In New York,” and “Shape Of My Heart.” Recorded a worldwide hit song on the chart.
But he said his first Top 40 finish with The Police’s Roxanne remained the highlight of his career.
“I was in the kitchen, painting the ceiling on the planks on the ladder, radio 1 on. Suddenly I heard the song and literally fell off the ladder.
“Nothing beats the moment you hear your voice for the first time on the radio. After that, the profits just dwindle.”
image source, Getty Images
Sting reportedly sold his entire back catalog to UMG last year for a nine-figure sum, following in the footsteps of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Shakira and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks. ing.
He believed in his record label, especially after artists like Prince and Jimi Hendrix have endured nasty post-mortem battles over property, and he believed in his musical legacy. He said he handed over management rights because he wanted to protect it.
“It can be confusing, so I think it’s better to take control now.”
However, the musician added, “I still think of them as my songs.”
“These are still my songs, just as the painter who sells his paintings to collectors still considers them his.
“I just got paid upfront. It’s very easy. That’s how I streamline.”
