MBW Explains are a suite of analytical capabilities that explore the context behind key music industry talking points and suggest what might happen next.
what’s happened?
This week, a YouTuber with over 2.9 million subscribers took to Twitter to announce that he received a copyright strike from YouTube for a popular video he posted to his channel.
Grandayy’s video titled “I asked an AI to write an Eminem rap about cats” included an AI-generated track featuring vocals that mimicked Eminem’s voice. The video was featured by John Oliver on his HBO show in February. last night tonight.
YouTube issued a strike and removed the video from the platform after a takedown request was submitted by Universal Music Publishing Group, which signed a global management deal with Eminem in 2007.
Grandayy claims on Twitter: Normally they would just claim and monetize videos like this, but for some reason they really wanted AI Eminem to be taken down. ”
According to YouTube’s FAQ, receiving a copyright strike “means that the copyright owner has submitted a complete and valid legal takedown request for using the copyrighted content. To do”.
The FAQ adds, “Upon receipt of this type of formal notice, we will remove your video to comply with copyright law.”
what is the context?
The use of artificial intelligence in music is on the rise many of the current discussion.
AI-powered lyric writing went viral after Nick Cave fans asked the ChatGPT system to write lyrics “in Nick Cave’s style” in January, leading the artist to describe the final product as “a grotesque mockery.” called.
But beyond text-based AI, one of the most innovative uses of artificial intelligence in music today is the use of AI engines to mimic human vocals.
MBW wrote about this in November, revealing that Tencent Music Entertainment has released over 1,000 songs with human-mimic AI vocals, one of which has already reached 100 million streams. bottom.
We also reported on this trend in 2021 and 2022. That’s when his HYBE, the company behind BTS, first invested in, and then acquired, voice AI company Supertone in his $32 million deal.
Supertone claims it can “create highly realistic and expressive voices”. [is not] Distinguishable from real humans. ”
A recent notable example of AI mimicking a famous artist’s vocals is David Guetta.
In February, Guetta revealed that he asked the AI platform “as a joke” to write the lyrics in Eminem’s style.
Guetta then used an AI tool to imitate Eminem’s voice using those lyrics and played the resulting audio on a live set. “I’m mad,” he said.
David Guetta’s story raised various ethical and legal issues about using AI to mimic another artist’s vocals without permission.
This was further tested in the wild last month viral video From “Entrepreneur and Designer” Robert Nixon Already used Use AI audio models of Kanye West (aka Ye) to turn his own voice into that of a controversial superstar.
(If you haven’t seen Nixon’s very striking yet rather disturbing video, it’s a must see – check it out here.)
Nixon gave a glimpse into the future of how this kind of AI will be used. He predicted that in the next few years, “every popular musician will go through multiple trainings.” [vocal] those models’.
He added: You end up listening to songs from your favorite artists who are totally indistinguishable. I don’t know if it’s them. ”
what happened now?
A source told MBW that the immediate issue with Grandayy’s takedown request was purely musical. The music used in the YouTuber’s track was, in Universal’s view, created in the style of the musical compositions of Eminem’s hits. Fearlessly, itself streamed 819 million Spotify alone doubles.
In other words, UMPG believed that the backing music used in the Grandayy AI track violated the copyright of Eminem’s original hit.. That’s why the takedown request was issued to YouTube by Universal, not because of the AI vocals mimicking Eminem’s voice.
talk ViseGrandayy claims AI Eminem’s rap track is a parody, stating: Try to imitate the original art and compete with it. ”
Grandayy adds: ”
Parody works are permissible under copyright law only if they are “transformative”, i.e. presented in a way that significantly alters the original work, and do not compete with the original work in the same market. (YouTube has a fair use policy for parodies and parodies in accordance with copyright law. Click here).
Grandayy suggests that UMGs typically “just claim.”[s] and monetize[s] A video like this, but for some reason I really wanted AI Eminem to be removed.
According to another source with knowledge of how UMG’s takedown requests work, the company’s policy is to create “unauthorized derivative” works (that do not infringe on the structure, lyrics, or other elements of the original track). UMG chooses not to monetize content that UMG considers to be without permission.
final thoughts
The allegedly infringing music accompanying Grandayy’s AI-generated vocals again Generated by AI. But if so, it speaks to a problematic problem for the modern music business.
The case raises many questions about the copyright implications of using generative AI in music and why it is a growing concern across the music industry.
This was underscored by the recent launch of a campaign last month at SXSW in Austin by a coalition of over 30 stakeholders including the RIAA, Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange. By supporting “human artistry”.
These principles include: “Use of copyrighted works and use of the voices and likenesses of professional performers requires authorization, license, and compliance with all relevant state and federal laws.” ” is included.
Michael Nash, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Universal Music Group, also recently wrote an op-ed for MBW, in which he highlighted some of the copyright concerns around AI-generated content.
In that op-ed, Nash wrote: .
“AI is now producing images that rival professional artists. One AI-generated portrait sold at Sotheby’s for £40,000 and another composition won a State Fair competition in Colorado.
“What many people don’t realize, however, is that most of these AI systems are being developed without seeking consent or providing compensation from the people who actually create and own this vital source of information. , obtaining an essential base of ‘knowledge’ from the vast amount of copyrighted content. material. “global music business
