Artists could receive royalties from songs produced using artificial intelligence (AI) under plans being drawn up by Google and Universal Music, reports have claimed.
Given the rise in songs created by AI which mimic artists, the pair are in discussions to license people's voices, according to Financial Times’ sources.
Concerns have been raised across the industry over AI-generated music, with some likening computer-created songs to the robbery of artists’ voices.
“An artist’s voice is often the most valuable part of their livelihood and public persona, and to steal it, no matter the means, is wrong,” Universal Music executive Jeffrey Harleston said last month.
Some good has come out of the emerging technology though, with Paul McCartney announcing that a final Beatles song would be released this year thanks to AI – some 50 years after the band’s final album Let it Be hit record shops.
Either way, ownership of AI-generated material is complex, with the prompter granted “some” copyright, according to Clifford Chance lawyers, but the actual legal framework is very limited.
Under Google and Universal’s plans, the industry would effectively develop a tool allowing people to create songs using AI legitimately.
This would encompass the creators paying for copyrights to their voices, with artists being able to opt in to the scheme, according to the sources.
Universal shares rose 0.5% to €23.72 on Wednesday.