Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more interesting for music industry. The German copyright management company Gema, in collaboration with the corresponding French Sacem, has published the results of the first worldwide research on the impact of artificial intelligence applications on music and creators. According to the survey, 71% of the total 15,000 creators surveyed are concerned about potential multi-billion financial losses from artificial intelligence over the next five years.

At the same time, however, the new technology seems to offer impressive possibilities. In France, for example, Warner Music is experimenting with the voice of the famous and especially beloved Edith Piaf. At the same time, at the German University of Würzburg, a research group is developing new methods of music analysis with the help of applications artificial intelligence. Recently the university research group secured funding of several million from the German public funds.

He writes lyrics and saves old recordings

After a brief exposure to artificial intelligence it becomes clear that its capabilities are beyond imagination. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, what is now slowly becoming known about artificial intelligence was at best the stuff of science fiction movies: It takes over entire stages in the music production process, is able to write lyrics or devise a strategy for preserving old recordings , like the Beatles for example.

According to the Gema study, around half of the under-35 music production workers in France and Germany employ artificial intelligence in their daily work. One of them is Rania Kim, who hails from Los Angeles and has been experimenting with various artificial intelligence applications for nine years. With their help she has analyzed 200 of her own songs. On this basis he analyzed the sound waves and created similar sound waveforms, i.e. new songs. The result of her experimentation was released on her first artificial intelligence album titled Portrait XO. However, the support of artificial intelligence also raises legal issues.

Good composers should not fear for their work

“We’re already listening to AI music on the radio without even knowing it,” says attorney Rainher Karl, specializing in copyright law. He is frequently invited to panel discussions on the implications of using artificial intelligence in music. The German lawyer explains that a composition is protected by copyright only if it is a personal intellectual creation: “The question that arises, however, is how artificial intelligence is used in the creation process. Only when the composer has an important role in the process and artificial intelligence is a tool, then we can talk about a real musical creation.” However, it is difficult to define the contribution of artificial intelligence to a composition. “Today, works that are not human compositions are registered with the copyright management company,” adds Rainher Karl. However, according to Gema, it is not subject to control whether the artists use artificial intelligence applications in the production process.

Consequently, the admittedly challenging question arises as to whether, with such innovative technology, composers are ultimately necessary. “Artificial intelligence is never as good as human intelligence, which is able to choose the best possible result from the existing material,” says Derek von Krogh, artistic director and CEO of the Academy of Pop Music in the state of Baden. – Württemberg.

He predicts that in the future music will become more complex and harmonically multifaceted. Derek von Krogh, however, believes that artists should not be afraid of losing their jobs. “When someone writes music that appeals to the public’s emotion, he doesn’t have to worry about whether or not he will have a job in a few years,” concludes the artistic director and CEO of the German Pop Music Academy.

Source: DW