Artists Unite Against AI-Generated Music: Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj and Others Call for Responsible Use of Technology

Major music publishers have filed a lawsuit against an AI company for copyright infringement related to song lyrics, which has sparked tensions in the cultural sector around the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The artists who signed the open letter, including Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Camila Cabello and over 200 other musical artists, urge developers of AI and technology companies to refrain from using AI in ways that undermine the rights of human artists.

The letter, shared by the Artist Rights Alliance (ARA), calls on digital music platforms and services to commit to not developing or deploying AI music generation technology that devalues the artistry of songwriters and artists or denies them fair compensation. The artists point out two concerning trends related to the unauthorized use of musical works by AI companies: the creation of AI-generated music that mimics human artists, and the dilution of royalty obligations through the use of AI algorithms. They also express concerns about the use of AI for voice cloning, which can transform vocal samples into songs that sound like human artists without their involvement.

The signatories of this letter include Sam Smith, HYBE, Jon Bon Jovi, Norah Jones, Pearl Jam, REM, Chuck D and Kate Hudson. This comes after a legal battle between major music publishers and an AI company over copyright infringement related to song lyrics. The cultural sector has also seen tensions around the use of AI with Hollywood actors initiating a strike to demand regulations on its use which they perceive as an existential threat.

The letter from these artists underscores