Artists Open Letter Case Study

Last month in April, over 200 popular artists signed an open letter asking for protection against predatory AI that mimicked their voices and sound. Among these artists included prominent figures like Billie Eilish, Nikki Minaj, and Stevie Wonder. Led by the Artist Rights Alliance advocacy group, this petition called on tech companies to pledge not to use AI in ways that would undermine or replace human creativity (Robins-Early).

However, the artists recognize the positive applications AI can have, and the permanence of AI in the modern world. As such, they do not call for a complete ban on AI in music, but rather emphasizes the need for responsible use that protects artists.

Even still, there is significant division among artists themselves regarding the use of AI in music. Under the framework of social construction of technology, these different groups of artists play a pivotal role in establishing how AI technology in music will develop, and AI in turn affects how these different groups use it (Kline). Some advocate for the potential benefits of AI in music creation, while others view it as a form of mockery that undermines their creative integrity. There’s this general fear in the industry that AI might dilute the value of original compositions and human creativity, or even replace humans altogether in some aspects of music production. Furthermore, as discussed in the TikTok case study, artists are concerned over their potentially diluted royalties and lack of proper compensation. On the other hand, some see AI as a tool for democratizing music creation, allowing anyone with a smartphone to create and share music.

Works Cited:

Robins-Early, Nick. “Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Stevie Wonder and More Musicians Demand Protection against AI.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2 Apr. 2024, www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/02/musicians-demand-protection-against-ai.