đŸ”— Share this article Soul Vocalist the Artist's Music Label Takes a Firm Position Regarding Viral 'Artificial Intelligence Clone' Track Smith's vocals were reportedly replicated in the creation of the hit song, 'I Run'. The record label representing award-winning singer Jorja Smith has stated its intention to receive a share of royalties from a track it asserts was created using an AI "replica" of the performer's distinctive vocal style. The song, titled 'I Run' by British electronic duo Haven, gained widespread popularity on social media in October, in part due to its smooth soul singing by an uncredited female singer. Despite its momentum and potential chart position in both UK and US, the track was later removed by leading streaming platforms after music organizations issued takedown requests, stating it breached copyright by imitating another artist. Even though 'I Run' has since been re-released with different vocals, Smith's label, FAMM, insists it is convinced the initial recording was generated with AI trained on her extensive work and is now seeking financial compensation. A Broader Issue in Play "This is not only about one artist. It's larger than a single performer or one song," the label stated in a public statement. FAMM also stated its belief that "each versions of the song violate the artist's legal rights and unjustly take advantage of the work of all the writers with whom she collaborates." Known for hits like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was crowned British Female Solo Artist at the prestigious Brit Awards in 2019. Suggesting that her fans were potentially misled by Haven's original track, the label added: "We must not permit this to be the new normal." Producers Admit Using AI Tools A producer admitted the use of AI in a social media post. The team responsible for the song have publicly admitted using AI in its production process. Producer Harrison Walker explained that the original vocals were in fact his own but were heavily altered using AI music software Suno, sometimes called the "advanced tool for music". In addition, the other producer, Waypoint, whose real name is Jacob Donaghue, stated on his accounts that AI was used to "apply our starting vocal a feminine tone". Donaghue and Walker assert that they composed and created the song themselves and have even provided files of their original computer files. "It is no mystery that I used AI-assisted vocal processing to convert solely my voice for 'I Run'," Walker said. "Being a songwriter and producer, I like experimenting with innovative technologies, techniques and staying on the cutting edge of industry trends," he continued. "In order to set the facts clear, the artists behind HAVEN are actual and human, and all we aim to do is make enjoyable music for other humans." Legal Gray Areas and Broader Impact The singer has received two Brit Awards, including the top female honor in 2019. While their first version of 'I Run' was suspended from official charts, the replacement version did enter the UK Top 40 recently. FAMM has framed the entire episode as a critical precedent for the entertainment sector's evolving relationship with AI. The label argued it had "a duty to speak up" and "encourage wider discussion", because AI is proliferating at an "alarming rate and substantially outpacing regulation". "Computer-created content should be clearly labelled as such so that the public may decide whether they listen to it or not," the statement added. Artists as 'Unintended Victims' Smith shared her label's position on her personal social media profile. The post cautioned that musicians and songwriters were turning into "collateral damage in the competition by governments and tech firms towards AI dominance". It also noted that the label would share any awarded royalties with the collaborators behind Smith's catalogue. "If we are able in proving that AI assisted to write the words and melody in 'I Run' and are granted a share of the song, we would aim to allocate every one of Jorja's collaborators with a corresponding share," it detailed. The Continuing Rise of Computer-Generated Music The proliferation of AI-generated music has been a source of both fascination and anxiety for the entertainment world. In June, the band Velvet Sundown gathered millions of plays before revealing they used AI to help develop their musical style. Recently, an AI-generated "performer" known as Breaking Rust led a US genre digital song sales chart, showing that audiences are not necessarily opposed to consuming AI-made music. Suno was last year sued for alleged violations by the industry's major biggest record labels, but those legal actions have since been settled. Following this, Warner Music entered into a partnership with the firm, which will allow users to generate songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner artists who opt in to the program. However, it remains unclear how a large number of well-known artists will consent to such applications of their identity. Recently, a group of renowned musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush issued a vinyl album featuring silent songs or recordings of empty studios in opposition to potential revisions to intellectual property regulations. They argue these amendments would make it easier for AI companies to develop systems using copyrighted work without obtaining a license.