Universal Music Group orders streaming platforms to block AI-generated music

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Music giant Universal Music Group (UMG) has urged popular music streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify to remove songs generated via artificial intelligence (AI) from their platforms.

UMG reportedly expressed its concerns over the uses of AI in the music industry, saying that the technology impugns intellectual property and copyright laws. An insider disclosed to Financial Times that UMG has been issuing take-down requests to streaming platforms “left and right” as AI-generated music begins to gather steam.

AI-generated songs in the mold of famous superstars like Jay Z and Kanye West have garnered wild reactions from the public for their brilliant artistry. However, many fans remain stumped over the ethical implications of streaming AI-generated music.

“The music industry is forever changed,” said Aliou Sidibe, a music aficionado. “This AI model of Jay Z sounds just like the real Jay. I know this was made by AI. Yet, as a fan of the real Jay Z, I still enjoyed this song.”

AI models have historically been trained using music catalogs on streaming platforms, but the ability to create from the models challenges industry stakeholders. Music corporations like UMG have stated that they will be pitching their tents with the musicians under their label, saying that it “will not hesitate to take steps to protect our rights and those of our artists.”

“The output you get is due to the fact that AI has been trained on those artists’ intellectual property,” one insider with knowledge on the matter said.

AI-generated music has been making waves on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook (NASDAQ: META), while Youtube pages dedicated to AI music have seen an uptick in activity. Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) revealed plans to experiment with AI music with the ability to generate “high-fidelity music from text descriptions.”

AI threatens to flip Web3 on its head

Following the release of ChatGPT-4, industry players have noted its ability to conduct smart contract audits, threatening to take over the jobs of Web3 auditors. A recent Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) experiment with ChatGPT demonstrated its expertise in carrying out a token security review with minimal errors.

Bad actors are leveraging the hype around artificial intelligence to fleece investors off their digital assets through rug pulls and ice phishing transactions. CertiK and U.S. state regulators like the Texas State Securities Board and the Alabama Securities Commission have warned consumers to be wary of Web 3 platforms using AI to make investment decisions.

In order for artificial intelligence (AI) to work right within the law and thrive in the face of growing challenges, it needs to integrate an enterprise blockchain system that ensures data input quality and ownership—allowing it to keep data safe while also guaranteeing the immutability of data. Check out CoinGeek’s coverage on this emerging tech to learn more why Enterprise blockchain will be the backbone of AI.

Watch: Music & Blockchain