🔗 Share this article Pop Vocalist Jorja Smith's Record Company Takes Firm Position Regarding Popular 'Artificial Intelligence Clone' Track Smith's vocals were allegedly replicated in the creation of the hit song, 'I Run'. The record label representing Brit Award-winning artist Jorja Smith has declared its desire to claim a portion of royalties from a track it claims was created using an artificial intelligence "clone" of the performer's distinctive vocal style. The track, titled 'I Run' by British dance act Haven, gained massive popularity on social media in October, partly due to its polished soul vocals by an unnamed woman singer. Although its success and impending top 40 entry in the UK and US, the song was subsequently removed by leading streaming platforms after music bodies issued takedown notices, alleging it breached copyright by impersonating another musician. Although 'I Run' has since been re-released with different vocals, Smith's label, FAMM, maintains it believes the initial version was made with AI trained on her body of recordings and is now seeking financial compensation. A Larger Issue at Stake "The situation isn't just about one artist. This is bigger than one artist or a single track," the label stated in a public announcement. FAMM also stated its belief that "both versions of the song violate Jorja's rights and unfairly benefit from the work of all the writers with whom she collaborates." Known for hits like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was named British Female Solo Artist at the annual Brit Awards in 2019. Implying that her fans were potentially misled by Haven's original release, the label added: "We must not allow this to be the new normal." Creators Acknowledge Employing AI Tools A producer confirmed the application of AI in a social media update. The duo behind the track have openly admitted utilizing AI during its creation. Producer Harrison Walker explained that the initial vocals were actually his own but were extensively altered using AI music platform Suno, often called the "ChatGPT for music". In addition, the other producer, Waypoint, identified as Jacob Donaghue, confirmed on social media that AI was used to "apply our starting vocal a female tone". Donaghue and Walker assert that they wrote and created the music themselves and have even shared files of their original computer files. "This is no mystery that I used AI-powered vocal editing to convert exclusively my voice for 'I Run'," Walker said. "As a songwriter and producer, I like experimenting with new tools, methods and staying on the cutting edge of what's happening," he continued. "To set the record clear, the people behind HAVEN are real and people, and all we aim to do is make enjoyable music for fellow humans." Legal Gray Areas and Broader Impact The singer has received two Brit Awards, among them the top female honor in 2019. While their first version of 'I Run' was suspended from official charts, the replacement version managed to enter the UK Top 40 recently. FAMM has framed the entire episode as a significant test case for the music industry's evolving interaction with AI. The label argued it had "a duty to voice concerns" and "encourage public discourse", because AI is advancing at an "alarming rate and significantly exceeding regulation". "Computer-created content should be clearly labelled as such so that the audience may decide whether they consume it or not," the statement added. Artists as 'Collateral Damage' Smith shared her label's position on her personal Instagram page. The post warned that artists and creators were turning into "unintended casualties in the race by policymakers and corporations towards AI dominance". It also noted that the label would distribute any potential songwriting credits with the collaborators behind Smith's catalogue. "Should we are able in establishing that AI assisted to write the words and melody in 'I Run' and are awarded a portion of the song, we would seek to assign each of Jorja's co-writers with a corresponding share," it explained. The Continuing Rise of Computer-Generated Music The proliferation of AI-generated music has been a topic of both interest and consternation for the music industry. In the summer, the group Velvet Sundown gathered millions of plays before revealing they used AI to aid develop their musical style. Last month, an AI-generated "performer" known as Breaking Rust led a US genre digital song sales chart, showing that audiences are not necessarily averse to consuming AI-made music. Suno was previously taken to court for alleged violations by the industry's major biggest record labels, though those legal actions have since been resolved. Subsequently, Warner Music entered into a partnership with the company, which will enable users to create songs using the vocal likenesses, names, and likenesses of Warner acts who agree to the service. Yet, it is uncertain how a large number of well-known musicians will consent to such uses of their work. Recently, a group of renowned musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush issued a vinyl album containing silent songs or audio of empty studios in protest to proposed changes to copyright law. They contend these amendments would make it easier for AI companies to train models using protected work without obtaining a permission.