A New Era Of Music: Harnessing Generative AI For Innovative Song Production

The music industry, always at the forefront of technological innovation, now embraces generative AI, drastically changing how music is created. This year marked the launch of Suno, often referred to as the ‘ChatGPT for music’. This platform enables the creation of full musical pieces from simple text inputs, blending AI-generated lyrics, vocals, and melodies into seamless compositions.

Navigating the Ethical Terrain of AI-Generated Content

The integration of AI in music production brings to light significant ethical considerations, particularly around the usage of copyrighted material. Alex Mubert, co-founder of a leading AI music startup, highlights these challenges. "Music is copyrighted with strict laws; however, it is very easy to steal and use it for free," Mubert explains, emphasising the need for robust protections against unauthorised use.

“Some AI startups exploit this vulnerability for their benefit and disregard the ethical considerations of the datasets. The same holds true for images, videos, and other creative content."

"We hope that measures will be implemented on a technical level (such as fingerprints or watermarks) to prohibit such misuse, allowing creators to earn money from AI training on their art," he says.

Pioneering Real-Time AI Music Creation

In 2017, Mubert introduced a groundbreaking real-time generative AI music platform, setting a precedent in the industry. His initiative distinguished itself by focusing on the symbiosis of AI and human creativity. "When we initially launched Mubert, it marked the inception of one of the first-ever live music generators," Mubert recalls. His platform not only utilises AI but also rewards the human musicians who contribute to the sound database, ensuring fair compensation.

The essence of his innovation lies in its fusion of AI technology with human musicianship. Unlike previous experiments in AI-generated music, Mubert argues that his platform places human creativity at its core.

"The reality is, without humans, AI cannot exist. AI learns from datasets created by humans,” he adds. “We compensate every musician who contributes data to our platform. Currently, our dataset comprises three million ethically sourced exclusive sounds, with ongoing expansion."

Mubert’s technology also reshapes how music is experienced, making each listening session unique to the user’s preferences. "When you tap 'Play’, it begins to generate music tailored exclusively for you," says Mubert, describing how the platform personalised each music stream based on user interactions and settings.

Ensuring Fair Play In AI Music

As AI technologies continue to evolve, Mubert is committed to addressing the ethical challenges that arise, particularly in protecting artists' rights. He outlines measures his company has taken to ensure creators can control how their music is used. "We empower our artists to select the licence for their content, allowing them to later specify the types of companies, apps, and other restrictions for their sounds' usage," Mubert states, illustrating his commitment to ethical practices.

Mubert also addresses the economic realities facing today's musicians, emphasising the importance of creating new revenue streams. "Musicians used to be quite rich in the times of vinyl-selling copies. Now they can only earn from royalties, selling merch, or live gigs," he points out, stressing the need for innovative solutions to support artists financially.

"We intend to launch a royalty distribution platform to ensure musicians are compensated each time their sounds generate revenue for us," says Mubert.

Central to Mubert's vision is the belief that AI and human creativity are not mutually exclusive but complementary forces. Every sound generated by the platform is sourced from human musicians, ensuring that creativity remains at the forefront.

“Artists can start creating tracks using AI and then infuse them with their unique creativity. They can also perform vocals over AI-generated beats and collaborate with renowned artists by utilising AI-driven replicas,” he adds.

Cultivating A New Musical Era In The Middle East

With the Middle East’s music industry burgeoning, Mubert is optimistic about the role AI can play in enhancing and preserving regional music traditions. His efforts focus not just on innovation but also on sustaining the musical heritage of the area. "My dream is to preserve local heritage by collecting instruments, melodies, rhythms, beats, and loops, and creating AI-driven public music accessible to everyone," he shares, illustrating his vision for a culturally rich musical future.

“This platform would serve as a futuristic hub for preserving heritage and we are constantly searching for niche styles, instruments, and rare melodies to put it all together. I look forward to discussing this further at the summit," he added at the conclusion of the interview.

Mubert is slated for a speaker role at the Integrate Middle East Summit 2024, taking place from May 21-23 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Source: Khaleej Times