A songwriter who has written popular songs for Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue has expressed concern about the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in the music industry, fearing that it may eventually replace the need for human songwriters.
Guy Chambers, who has worked with Williams for more than 20 years, suggested that there may come a time when albums will have to explicitly state that they were created entirely by humans.
Based on my observations of AI, its capabilities and potential to replace songwriters are quite frightening.
Chambers, whose co-writing credits include the multi-platinum hit Angels, said: “Any person could put into an AI programme something like ‘I want a song 100 BPM that sounds like a cross between Abba and Arctic Monkeys’. And some music will be created and it will be pretty good.
“Alternatively, a request may be made for a humorous fast food-themed song, with the outcome being a rather impressive lyrical piece. As artificial intelligence continues to advance in capability, the quality of these creations will only improve.”
Chambers is a highly successful pop songwriter from the UK who has collaborated with artists such as Mark Ronson, Anastasia, and Katie Melua.
The author mentions YouTube’s use of an AI program called DreamTrack, which allows users to input song requests such as “a ballad about opposites attracting with a lively acoustic sound.” This AI then creates a one-of-a-kind song. Popular musicians like Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, and John Legend have given permission for their voices to be used, resulting in numerous AI covers “performed” by these artists on YouTube.
In November, Lyor Cohen, the head of music for the platform, stated that artificial intelligence is meant to enhance human creativity, not to substitute for it.
This week, Chambers spoke to apprentices in the music and entertainment industry at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in Nottingham. The institute aims to assist disadvantaged individuals by providing them with specialized courses in further and higher education related to the industry and by encouraging them to utilize their studios and live music facilities.
Chambers stated that due to the extensive use of software and AI, it is difficult to create purely organic analog recordings. While there are certain advantages to incorporating AI technology, there may also be unforeseen associations in the future. However, Chambers expresses concern that this may cause laziness in young musicians, and in the competitive music industry, success is unlikely without hard work and dedication.
When asked for guidance to young musicians, he advised them to be adaptable and have a multitude of skills as they will be necessary. He emphasized having a diverse set of abilities as his main point. He also advised having a variety of personal skills, including charisma and determination.
Craig Chettle, the creator of the Confetti Institute, stated that AI has the potential to be a positive tool for improving music. This includes automating monotonous tasks and freeing up time for artists and engineers to focus on the creative aspect.
However, he explained that there is no replacement for actually doing it, and many aspiring songwriters, performers, and producers desire to utilize the recording studios and live event spaces at colleges in a traditional manner.
Similar to the film and television world, the growing use of AI has sparked controversy surrounding its potential to replace or diminish the role of artists. This was demonstrated last year when an AI-generated song, falsely claiming a collaboration between Drake and the Weeknd, garnered hundreds of thousands of streams before being removed from streaming platforms.
The Recording Industry Association of America has initiated a “human artistry movement” in order to restrict AI. In a set of fundamental guidelines, it proclaims: “Humans are most drawn to creations that capture the essence of lived experiences, perspectives, and attitudes of others. Only humans are capable of producing and fully achieving works with such significant significance.”
Last year, the American musicians’ union collaborated with Hollywood studios to establish boundaries for the utilization of their music in order to allow AI to generate soundtracks.
The Musicians’ Union in the UK is advising its members to inform their record labels and publishers to ask for consent before their music can be utilized in training AI algorithms to produce original compositions.
Artists and technology corporations are progressively testing out AI. In the year 2021, a symphony left incomplete by Beethoven, his 10th, was “finished” by utilizing an AI algorithm that was trained on the composer’s entire collection of compositions from the 19th century.
Chambers and the Lemon Trees are preparing to launch their second album, three decades after their initial release. In the previous month, Chambers made his first live performance in 30 years.
He stated that he simply wanted to test his abilities, and his children believed he could accomplish the task. Three of his children were present and he believes they were quietly impressed.
Source: theguardian.com
