As artificial intelligence breaks into more industries and transforms people’s lives and work, a broad coalition of musicians and artists have banded together to launch a campaign to ensure that AI is developed and used in ways that support human culture and artistry.
The goal of the Human Artistry Campaign is to ensure that AI will not replace or “erode” human culture and artistry, according to a press release on Thursday (March 16).
The signatories include the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange.
The campaign will roll out what the members call “AI principles” during a panel at SXSW in Austin on Thursday (March 16), featuring voice actor and prolific songwriter Dan Navarro, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jessy Wilson and UT Austin professor and immersive technology expert Erin Reilly.
The group have listed seven “Core Principles for Artificial Intelligence Applications” aimed at supporting human creativity and accomplishments.
The principles state that: technology has long empowered human expression, and AI will be no different; human-created works will continue to play an essential role in our lives; and use of copyrighted works, and use of the voices and likenesses of professional performers, requires authorization, licensing, and compliance with all relevant state and federal laws.
The campaign also stresses that copyright should only protect the unique value of human intellectual creativity; that trustworthiness and transparency are essential to the success of AI and protection of creators; and that creators’ interests must be represented in policymaking.
The launch of the AI campaign comes amid growing concerns that AI will soon replace human creativity following the emergence of more advanced AI tech like ChatGPT.
“Although AI can be an incredible tool, without the protection of real human artistry AI could devastate the Black creative community that leads so much of popular culture.”
Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, Black Music Action Coalition
Black Music Action Coalition Co-founder and Co-Chair Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, said: “Black songwriters, producers, and artists already face an uphill battle for ownership, credit, and proper payment in the music industry.
“Although AI can be an incredible tool, without the protection of real human artistry AI could devastate the Black creative community that leads so much of popular culture.”
“Recent developments in AI are remarkable, but we have seen the costs before of rushing heedlessly forward without real thought or respect for law and rights.”
Mitch Glazier, RIAA
“Human artistry is irreplicable. Recent developments in AI are remarkable, but we have seen the costs before of rushing heedlessly forward without real thought or respect for law and rights. Our principles are designed to chart a healthy path for AI innovation that enhances and rewards human artistry, creativity, and performance,” added RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier.
NMPA President & CEO David Israelite added that “incredible music originates from individuals.”
“As we face growing AI capabilities, we as an industry are united around the fact that human artistry must be protected by strong copyright law and policy and that AI tools are developed in ways that do not undermine the value of songwriters’ work.”
David Israelite, NMPA
“As we face growing AI capabilities, we as an industry are united around the fact that human artistry must be protected by strong copyright law and policy and that AI tools are developed in ways that do not undermine the value of songwriters’ work,” says NMPA President & CEO David Israelite.
Universal Music Group Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash noted in a recent op/ed on MBW that most of the AI systems today acquire their “knowledge” from vast quantities of copyrighted content without seeking consent from those who produced the source material.
“There is so much potential with AI. But it also presents risks to our creative community. It’s crucial that we get this right early on so we don’t risk losing the artistic magic that only humans can create.”
Harvey Mason Jr., Recording Academy
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. added: “There is so much potential with AI. But it also presents risks to our creative community. It’s crucial that we get this right early on so we don’t risk losing the artistic magic that only humans can create.”
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland of SAG-AFTRA said: “It comes down to respect for creative workers and their craft.
“We have long fought for protections against misappropriation of our members’ voices, likenesses and performances, and we are excited to continue that vital work in conjunction with our coalition partners. As technology continues to improve storytelling, we want to ensure humans are always at the center of the story.”
“Artificial intelligence is a powerful, still-emerging technology that presents unique challenges as it matures in the creative arts space. We embrace the responsible use of AI, but recent advancements in AI have underscored the need to develop consensus on responsible use and to address important intellectual property concerns.”
Michael Huppe, Soundexchange
SoundExchange’s President and CEO Michael Huppe added: “Artificial intelligence is a powerful, still-emerging technology that presents unique challenges as it matures in the creative arts space.
“We embrace the responsible use of AI, but recent advancements in AI have underscored the need to develop consensus on responsible use and to address important intellectual property concerns. Our culture and our technology must respect the foundational role that all creators play in AI’s ultimate output.”
Members of the campaign include American Association of Independent Music, American Federation of Musicians, Americana Music Association, Artist Rights Alliance, Artist Rights Watch, ASCAP, Association of American Publishers, BMI, Black Music Action Coalition, Christian Music Trade Association, Church Music Publishers Association, Department of Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, Future of Music Coalition, Georgia Music Partners, Global Music Rights, Gospel Music Association, Graphic Artists Guild, IFPI, International Federation of Actors, #IRespectMusic, MLB Players’ Association, Music Artists Coalition, Music Tech Policy, Music Workers Alliance, NHL Players’ Association, National Music Publishers’ Association, The Trichordist, Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, Rhythm & Blues Foundation, SAG-AFTRA, SESAC, Songwriters of North America, and SoundExchange.
Stef Van Vugt, the founder and CEO of Fruits Music, a label-cum-playlist company, recently raised questions about the ownership of AI-made music, saying the rise of AI “will have many benefits and drawbacks for everyone in the industry.”
Back in November, MBW reported that more than 1,000 songs with human-mimicking AI vocals have been released by Tencent Music Entertainment in China, with one already surpassing 100 million streams.
Music Business Worldwide
