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The Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, and Other Music Stars Criticize ‘Enormous’ AI Threats
April 3, 2024
Over 200 artists, including Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, J Balvin, Ja Rule, Jon Bon Jovi, The Jonas Brothers, and Miranda Lambert, are voicing serious concerns about threats linked to artificial intelligence in the music industry.
A long list of well-renowned names in the music industry, put together in an open letter by the nonprofit Artist Rights Alliance, is urging AI developers, technology firms, platforms, and digital music services to “cease the use of artificial intelligence to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists,” according to the letter, which was issued on Tuesday by the artist-led education and advocacy organization and subsequently published online.
The statement from artists highlights how AI is geared to revamp creative industries and the whole U.S. economy in ways that are still not clear, even as the technology develops exponentially and its potential and capabilities expand.
The letter focuses on AI threats such as voice cloning and deepfakes and “irresponsible uses of AI” like employing AI-generated sounds to reduce artists’ royalty payments and utilizing musical compositions by AI developers without getting valid permission for training and producing AI imitators.
The letter states, “We believe that, when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere. Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders.”
The letter alerts digital music platforms and services to voice their commitment to protecting artists. “We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem,” it says.
The long list of signatories includes songwriters, celebrities, and major entertainment companies such as Camila Cabello, Finneas, Imagine Dragons, J Balvin, Ja Rule, Jon Batiste, Julia Michaels, Kate Hudson, Kim Petras, members of Mumford & Sons, Nicki Minaj, Norah Jones, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Sam Smith, Sheryl Crow, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Zayn Malik, as well as the estates of Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra.
Jen Jacobsen, the executive director of the ARA, said in a statement that the threats of artificial intelligence are getting worse and making working conditions for artists very challenging. “Working musicians are already struggling to make ends meet in the streaming world, and now they have the added burden of trying to compete with a deluge of AI-generated noise,” she said. “The unethical use of generative AI to replace human artists will devalue the entire music ecosystem—for artists and fans alike.”
The threat of AI is a huge concern beyond the music industry too. This open letter brings prominent names to the forefront to speak out against it.
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