Can AI-generated music win a GRAMMY? The Recording Academy, the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards, now permits songs with AI-generated elements to be eligible for nominations.
Music is one of the many mediums people have used to express themselves artistically. Many musicians put years of personal work into their craft to generate audiences that, in turn, can tell just how much passion and love went into their art. As AI becomes increasingly involved in the creative process, it’s reshaping how all forms of art are evaluated, including when it comes to awards.
With this change, the Recording Academy has made a shift of its own, announcing that songs featuring AI elements can now be considered for Grammy Awards. However, strict guidelines apply that a human must have made a significant creative contribution, and the majority of the work must be human-made. Additionally, only individuals, not AI systems, can submit songs for consideration.
Although the change took effect in the summer of 2023, The Wall Street Journal only recently interviewed Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. Harvey has worked with plenty of industry royalty, such as Beyoncé and Whitney Houston. With the rapid advancement and rise of AI, he spoke on its future within the industry.
When asked about what AI means for the future of artists, Mason said,
The expertise of a musician or a creator is going to continue to be valuable. With AI, you might be able to text the prompt and get an initial response, but it’s going to be the person who has the taste and the style, who knows what’s going to be cool and meaningful and resonate with listeners. A lot of people love music, but not a lot of people can make great music. The ratio of fans to creators will change. But I believe there’ll be a top tier of people who are really, truly prolific creators, regardless of the technology or the tools.
~Harvey Mason Jr.
Currently, human effort will still be recognized and prioritized over wholly automated pieces. However, as AI continues to grow and evolve across the artistic landscape, its place within it will also change. Readers wanting to stay updated should watch for upcoming music news and updates.
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