Google and Universal Music are preparing an agreement to legalize “deepfake” music – Corriere.it

Partnership against so-called “deepfakes”. In accordance with Financial Times, is the scope of the agreement that Google and Universal Music will be on the brink of finalizing. Generative artificial intelligence has now brought to the boom of songs created with the reproduction of artists’ voices and copying their texts without any consent. The goal of the two giants is to protect the music industry.

Legally reproduced music

There doesn’t appear to be any new products planned at the moment, but the goal is to develop tools that will allow enthusiasts to create AI-assisted music legally by paying copyrights to owners. FT sources said that Google may release its own platform for which the same artists and license holders will be able to decide whether to gain access by joining the project

. If the deal goes through, it would be a nice change of course from the past, especially for Universal Music, which just four months ago asked streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify to cut back on AI training. music catalog protected by your copyright

Change of course to universal

The record giant, which controls about a third of the global music market, has been concerned about AI robots that use songs to teach how to create “unreleased” music, but modeled on songs already on the market. Songs generated, so to speak, in training, however, ended up on some distribution services and the group immediately requested its removal. At the time, a source at Universal told the FT that “We have a moral and commercial responsibility to our artists to work to prevent unauthorized use of their music and to prevent platforms from uploading content that infringes the rights of artists and other creators.

Negotiations are also underway with Warner Music.

Just three months later, the group’s general counsel put it this way during a U.S. Senate hearing in June: “An artist’s voice is often the most valuable part of his work and the public’s recognition.” But Universal won’t be alone. Warner Music is also in talks with Google about a similar solution, according to the Financial Times. Recently CEO Robert Kinkle came up with the idea of ​​software development

able to draw inspiration from already created music: “This will allow artificial intelligence to create a new level of interaction between artists and fans,” he said.

Some examples of “deepfake” music

The public is divided over “deepfake” music: there are those who see it as an opportunity, and those who, on the other hand, think it will be an even bigger problem for the music sector. Among the most famous artists who have fallen victim to this system are Billy Eilish, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd and Drake. Of the latter two, the fake song hit social media in May last year. Heart on my sleevewhich within a few hours over 800,000 plays have already been generated. Drake, one of the leaders of Universal Music,

he decided to take a stand against the AI ​​and asked for it to be removed soon after. Often this phenomenon happens with deceased artists: this is the case of Frank Sinatra, whose voice was reproduced in an incredible hip-hop version of the song. Gangster Paradiseor country singer Johnny Cash, who tries his hand at interpreting Barbie girl.