Mason further explained that the vocals were not legally obtained or cleared by the label or the artists, and the song is not commercially available, hence its ineligibility. The song, “Heart On My Sleeve,” was not created using samples from existing Drake or The Weeknd songs, which complicates the “clearance” aspect. The legality of using existing art as training data for AI is currently being litigated in various legal cases. This issue is expected to become more complex as the music industry continues to grapple with the rise of sophisticated tech.
Key takeaways:
- An AI-employing artist, Ghostwriter, submitted a song featuring digitally recreated voices of Drake and The Weeknd for Grammy consideration, causing a stir in the music industry.
- Recording Academy chief Harvey Mason, Jr. clarified that the song is not eligible for the Grammys, not because of the AI voices, but because it doesn't meet the 'commercially available' requirement.
- Mason also highlighted that the vocals were not legally obtained or cleared by the label or the artists, adding another layer of complexity to the issue.
- The case brings up the legal question of using existing art as training data for AI, a topic currently being litigated in various legal cases, mostly related to visual arts.