The Grammys recently made headlines for their rules regarding music created with artificial intelligence (AI). While some argue that AI-generated songs should be banned, others see them as innovative and creative. The CEO and president of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr., states that they will not be awarding a Grammy to AI, but they will continue to honor the human side of creativity.
Here is the Academy’s official rule about AI recordings:
The GRAMMY Award recognizes creative excellence. Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a GRAMMY Award. A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any Categories. A work that features elements of A.I. material (i.e., material generated by the use of artificial intelligence technology) is eligible in applicable Categories; however: (1) the human authorship component of the work submitted must be meaningful and more than de minimis; (2) such human authorship component must be relevant to the Category in which such work is entered (e.g., if the work is submitted in a songwriting Category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the music and/or lyrics; if the work is submitted in a performance Category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the performance); and (3) the author(s) of any A.I. material incorporated into the work are not eligible to be nominees or GRAMMY recipients insofar as their contribution to the portion of the work that consists of such A.I material is concerned. De minimis is defined as lacking significance or importance; so minor as to merit disregard.
According to Mason Jr., a Grammy can be awarded for the human portion of recorded music. The Academy aims to recognize music that incorporates AI elements, but with the condition that humans play a significant role in its creation.
In a series of interview questions and responses, Mason Jr. further elaborated on the Academy’s stance on AI, clarifying what qualifies at the Grammys, and sharing his own experiences with using AI in recording sessions. Here is a bulleted list of clarifying points he made he made during that interview:
- The Academy established clear rules around AI recordings because they recognize its growing presence and influence in the music industry and want to address it proactively. They believe it’s crucial to start discussions early and ensure that the mission of honoring and respecting excellent music is upheld. They acknowledge that AI will have a place in the future of society, culture, and the arts.
- Regarding their stance on AI songs, the Academy distinguishes between fully-made AI songs and partially-made AI songs. While they do not acknowledge AI with Grammy nominations or awards, they do recognize the importance of human contributions in a creation that may involve AI elements. For example, if a human writes the lyrics and creates the track, while an AI sings it, it would still qualify for consideration. On the other hand, if an AI writes a song and an artist performs it without any human involvement in the composition, the AI is not eligible for a Grammy, but the human performance is.
- The level of human participation required for Grammy consideration is more than just minimal involvement. It must be a meaningful and substantial contribution to the song’s creation. This criterion ensures that the human element remains predominant in the final product.
- The Academy’s announcement of their rules around AI generated significant attention, though Mason Jr. wasn’t surprised by the reception. He emphasizes the importance of discussing and understanding the impact of AI in the music industry. Despite some fears and calls for bans, the Academy believes that embracing and understanding AI’s role in creativity is essential for its advancement.
- To ensure transparency, those submitting songs with AI elements are required to notify the Academy of this aspect. While the exact process of reviewing submissions is still being determined, the Academy expects honest disclosures from submitters, rather than thoroughly scrutinizing each AI contribution.
- As a songwriter and producer himself, Mason Jr. acknowledges that AI is already prevalent in the industry. Many people unknowingly use AI in the form of apps that assist in tuning, vocal extraction, frequency adjustments, and mastering plug-ins. He recounts a recent session where an AI app generated lyrics based on a song’s title, which were then used as inspiration for the final version. While he has not used AI-generated lyrics or tracks in their entirety, he has witnessed its use as a source of inspiration during collaborative sessions.
The Recording Academy has established rules to address and manage AI in music. They are committed to honoring and respecting human creativity, while also recognizing the potential of AI to contribute to the art form. By ensuring that human participation remains substantial and meaningful, the Grammys seek to adapt to the evolving landscape of music creation.
The whytry.ai article you just read is a brief synopsis; the original article can be found here: Read the Full Article…
