The composer responsible for popular songs by Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue has expressed concern over the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in the music world, as it may eventually lead to the replacement of human songwriters.
Guy Chambers, who has worked with Williams for over 20 years, stated: “I believe there may come a time in the future when an album must be labeled as being entirely created by humans.”
Based on my observations of AI, its rate of progress is quite alarming in regards to its capabilities and the potential for it to replace songwriters.
According to Chambers, who has also co-written the extremely successful song “Angels,” it is possible for anyone to input a specific request into an AI program, such as “create a song with a tempo of 100 BPM that combines elements of Abba and Arctic Monkeys.” The program can then generate music that is of decent quality.
Another person may inquire, “Could you create a humorous song lyric about fast food?” With the advancements in AI, the quality of these lyrics will only continue to improve.
Chambers has achieved great success in the UK as a pop songwriter and has collaborated with notable artists, such as Mark Ronson, Anastasia, and Katie Melua.
The individual’s thoughts are shared while YouTube conducts a test with a programmed intelligence known as DreamTrack. This system allows users to input their desired song specifications, such as “a melodic tune about the compatibility of opposites with a lively, acoustic sound.” In response, it generates a one-of-a-kind song. Celebrities like Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, and John Legend have given permission for their voices to be utilized, resulting in many AI versions of other musicians’ songs being available on YouTube credited to these singers.
During its release in November, Lyor Cohen, who heads the music department on the platform, stated: “The purpose of artificial intelligence is to enhance human creativity, not replace it.”
This week, Chambers spoke to apprentices in the music and entertainment industry at Nottingham’s Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies. The institute is dedicated to providing education and training to those in need and encourages them to utilize its studios and live music spaces in pursuit of their career goals.
Chambers stated that with the increasing reliance on software aided by AI, it would be difficult to create an entirely organic analog recording nowadays. While there are advantages to this trend, Chambers believes that there may be significant collaborations with AI in the future that surpass our current imagination. However, he also expresses concern about the possibility of young musicians becoming complacent and not putting in the necessary effort to succeed in the music industry.
When asked about his thoughts on aspiring musicians, he suggested having versatility and a wide range of abilities to adapt to different situations. He emphasized that this is crucial for success and encourages young musicians to develop their personal skills, such as charisma and determination.
According to Craig Chettle, the creator of the Confetti Institute, AI has the potential to positively impact music by improving it. This could involve automating tasks that are often done repeatedly, freeing up time for artists and engineers to focus on the more creative aspects.
However, he explained that there is no alternative to actually practicing the craft and that students who aspire to be songwriters, performers, and producers are eager to utilize the traditional methods of using the recording studios and live events venues in these colleges.
Similarly to the film and TV world, the possibility of AI taking over or diminishing the contributions of artists is causing growing tensions. A song created by AI that pretended to be a joint effort by Drake and the Weeknd received hundreds of thousands of plays last year before being removed from streaming platforms.
The Recording Industry Association of America has initiated a “human artistry campaign” to restrict the use of AI. Through a set of fundamental beliefs, it asserts that humans are most strongly connected to artistic creations that convey the unique experiences, perspectives, and beliefs of individuals. It also states that only humans possess the capability to create and fully bring to life works with such profound significance.
Last year, the musician’s union in the United States came to an agreement with Hollywood studios to establish guidelines for the utilization of their music in order to assist AI in producing soundtracks.
The Musicians’ Union in the UK is encouraging their members to inform their record labels and publishers that they must obtain permission to use their music in training Artificial Intelligence models for creating new compositions.
Artists and technology companies are increasingly exploring the use of AI. In 2021, an AI model was used to “finish” Beethoven’s incomplete 10th symphony, utilizing data from all of the composer’s previous works.
Chambers and the Lemon Trees will soon be releasing their second album, three decades after their debut. Recently, Chambers made his first public performance in 30 years.
“I simply wanted to test my abilities,” he stated. “My children had faith in me and three of them were present; I believe they were secretly impressed.”
Source: theguardian.com
