UMG pulls music from TikTok, AI Music Hypocrites, and more

10-second Catch up

Universal Music Group is pulling its artist’s music from TikTok

UMG calls for a pause on TikTok over issues of fair artist compensation, AI's impact on human artists, and user safety. In an open letter posted on their website, UMG highlight TikTok's low payment rates despite its reliance on music and its growing user base. They criticize TikTok for promoting AI-generated music, which could dilute human artists' royalties, and for inadequate responses to copyright infringement and problematic content. UMG says they are standing firm against TikTok's negotiation tactics, emphasizing their commitment to protecting artists' creative and commercial value.

Read UMG’s full open letter here

Read TikTok’s Response here

What do you think?

AI Music Hypocrites

In the rapidly evolving landscape of music production, AI's role stirs a contentious debate. Critics of AI-generated music often overlook a critical irony: many artists already rely on AI and machine learning tools in their music creation process.

Consider Landr’s AI mastering services, which have become a staple for independent artists seeking polished sounds without high studio fees. Similarly, Logic Pro, one of the most popular digital audio workstations, integrates machine learning in features like Logic's Drummer. This tool instantly generates drum regions for songs, streamlining the creative process.

The resistance to AI-generated music seems selective, ignoring its already pervasive influence in modern music production. This dichotomy raises a fundamental question: Where do we draw the line? If we embrace AI for mastering or beat creation, why scorn its use in composing melodies or harmonies?

This isn't a call to blindly accept all AI in music but to acknowledge and critically consider the hypocrisy. As AI continues to blend into the fabric of music creation, it’s vital to recognize its role not as a replacement for human creativity, but as a tool that complements and enhances our artistic expressions or even as an new instrument to be played.

🔶 Random Links Other Important Things Happening in AI and Music

• AI music update: SoundCloud deals, Google questions, FTC probe (Music Ally Article)

• Inside the Music Industry’s High-Stakes AI Experiments (New YorkerArticle)

• Generative AI Music Market to be Worth $3BN by 2028 (MBW Article)

• 71% of musicians fear AI: French-German study (Tech Xplore article)

• BMG is the latest music company to announce a partnership aimed at developing AI-driven technology. (MBW Article)

• Studio’s new online school for musicians uses AI to create custom curriculums (Tech Crunch Article)

• Is AI Music Taking Royalties From Musicians and Composers? (Ari’s Take Podcast episode)

• Google Trained Its AI on Copyrighted Music, Sources Say — Now It’s Trying to Make Deals (Billboard Article)

• TikTok can generate AI songs, but it probably shouldn’t (The Verge Article)

• Music maestro AR Rahman says AI just a tool, confident that creativity not getting replaced (The New Indian Express Article)

• Prenuvo is bringing AI music to MRIs. Can it cure your claustrophobia? (Fast Company Article)

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