Jorja Smith’s Record Label Disputes AI Clone

In a contentious development within the music industry, Jorja Smith’s record label, FAMM, has raised alarms about a song allegedly utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI) “clone” of Smith’s voice. The track, titled “I Run” by the British dance group Haven, gained popularity on TikTok in October, with smooth vocals from an uncredited female singer, drawing significant attention.

As the song began to chart in both the UK and US, it faced a sudden ban from streaming services following copyright infringement claims made by record industry bodies. These claims assert that the track was created using a voice model trained on Smith’s existing work, prompting FAMM to seek a share of the royalties.

FAMM emphasized in an Instagram statement that the issue at hand transcends Smith as an individual, stating, “This isn’t just about Jorja. It’s bigger than one artist or one song.” They expressed concerns that both the original and re-released versions of “I Run” violate Smith’s rights and exploit contributions from her collaborative songwriters. The label further highlighted that this situation could set a precedent for how AI intersects with music creation.

Smith, who achieved recognition for hits like “Be Honest” and “Little Things,” and received acclaim as Best British Female at the 2019 Brit Awards, has issued a warning about the misleading nature of Haven’s song. FAMM aligned with her sentiment, declaring, “We cannot allow this to become the new normal.” The controversy arose as the song’s producers, Harrison Walker and Jacob Donaghue, acknowledged their use of AI in creating the track, with Walker clarifying that he manipulated his vocals through Suno, music-generation software sometimes dubbed the “ChatGPT for music.”

Despite their claim that the original vocals were their own, the use of AI to replicate a “female tone” sparked further debate within the industry. Walker and Donaghue defended the authenticity of their creativity by sharing original works with Billboard, reiterating their dedication to evolving music through innovative techniques.

Interestingly, Suno, the AI tool utilized in developing the song, has faced its own legal challenges for copyright infringement in the past. Although the company has settled disputes with major record labels, the legality of utilizing copyrighted material for training remains uncertain. Haven maintained that their software was prompted to generate “soulful vocal samples” during the musical creation process, diminishing accountability for the potential copyright violations.

With their original version of “I Run” suspended from important music charts, the re-released variation has since made its debut in the UK Top 40. FAMM has articulated a broader concern over the alarming pace at which AI is permeating the music industry, arguing for clear labeling of AI-generated material to empower consumer choice.

In a show of solidarity, Jorja Smith reshared FAMM’s statement, echoing warnings about artists becoming “collateral damage” in the face of aggressive AI advancements. The label has pledged to share any royalties received with the writers behind Smith’s catalogue, highlighting the potential consequences if AI is revealed to have contributed to the songwriting process.

The rise of AI music has sparked both curiosity and anxiety among artists and creators. Recent instances, such as the band Velvet Sundown achieving millions of streams using AI, show the growing acceptance of computer-generated sounds. In a notable example, an AI-generated entity named Breaking Rust topped the US country digital song sales chart, blurring the lines between human and algorithm-created music.

Debate continues as the music industry grapples with the implications of AI. For instance, last week, prominent musicians including Sir Paul McCartney and Annie Lennox protested looming changes to copyright law by releasing a vinyl album of silent recordings. They argue these changes would facilitate easier AI training using copyrighted works without proper licensing.

The evolving relationship between technology and music is undoubtedly complex, with implications for artists’ rights, creative authenticity, and the future landscape of music consumption. As the dialogue continues, the music industry must navigate these challenges thoughtfully to protect creators and their contributions.