As AI Music is Commercialized, How Can Artists' Rights Be Safeguarded? (AI Translation)

【周刊提前读】AI音乐商业化冲击原有生态 艺术家权益如何保障？

Throughout May, the Mandarin music scene was abuzz with excitement surrounding Hunan Satellite TV's competition show, "Singer," which enforced new rules requiring live singing without audio correction. This heightened interest with renowned singer Na Ying losing to two foreign performers and led netizens to call for other Chinese singers to join. Following this, the competition's lineup became more electrifying with the addition of famed singer Adam Lambert and Sun Nan[para. 1].

The music industry is experiencing a revolution led by artificial intelligence (AI). On March 22, 2024, music generation model Suno released Version V3, allowing users to create two-minute songs with lyrics and vocals in seconds by inputting descriptive words. This democratizes music creation and allows ordinary people to produce complete musical works easily. Following its release, it became popular in China, leading to creative uses like making songs from traditional Chinese medicine instructions[para. 2][para. 3].

Other similar AI music creation models have also emerged, such as Kunlun Tech's TianGong SkyMusic and Stability AI's Stable Audio 2.0, emphasizing "zero-threshold" music generation. Compatibility and accessibility for novice users are primary focuses[para. 3].

AI's influence extends to traditional venues as well, with Tencent Music collaborating to create "Qinyue MegaModel," producing traditional Chinese music performed by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra[para. 4]. This concert was the first AI traditional Chinese music concert in China[para. 4].

The music industry faces a new conflict with AI-generated songs entering streaming platforms, leading to intellectual property infringement issues. Major record labels like Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music hold over 70% of the global market share and are adamant about protecting their copyrights. For instance, Universal Music temporarily halted licensing content to TikTok due to AI-generated content issues but resumed after TikTok promised actions against unauthorized AI content[para. 5][para. 6][para. 7].

Global music industry dynamics shifted further when 246 international artists signed an open letter urging AI developers and tech companies to commit against misusing AI for degrading human artists' works. They emphasized AI's dual nature and the need to control unauthorized usage[para. 8][para. 9].

Streaming platforms like NetEase Cloud Music and QQ Music have begun integrating AI-generated music into their libraries with specific categorizations and high play counts for AI-produced tracks. These platforms also face challenges in identifying and managing AI-generated content due to its realistic sound quality, making it difficult to distinguish from human-created music[para. 10][para. 11].

Commercial music, such as jingles and background music, might be the first to be replaced by AI due to simpler rhythmic structures and lower quality requirements. However, AI-generated music still has issues like poor sound quality and lacks human emotion, making it unsuitable as a complete replacement for human musicians[para. 12][para. 13].

Efforts to integrate AI music models domestically include gaining access to Chinese and Guofeng music data for better alignment with local preferences. Training data and quality remain critical, and the development still requires human efforts[para. 14][para. 15][para. 16]. The complexity of music production, from singing variations to multiple arrangements, challenges AI models[para. 16][para. 17]. This stage demonstrates that AI-generated music cannot yet fully replace human elements[para. 18][para. 19].

In response, there's a significant legislative and industry movement to protect artist rights and ensure fair compensation. The U.S., for instance, has the "Protect Working Musicians Act" and the "ELVIS Act" set to take effect, protecting artists from unauthorized mimicry and generative AI content[para. 21][para. 22]. Platforms are also enforcing policies to safeguard against infringing AI-generated music, like Spotify's stance against unauthorized mimicry and YouTube’s AI music principles[para. 24][para. 25].

Record companies monitor platforms for copyright infringement, evidenced by Universal Music's legal actions against AI companies and agreements with platforms to prevent unauthorized AI content[para. 23][para. 26]. Balancing AI advancements while protecting artists and copyrights remains a nuanced challenge for the industry[para. 27].

In summary, AI is changing music creation, offering new possibilities yet requiring careful management to protect human artists' rights and maintain industry integrity[para. 28].