In a groundbreaking move, an AI-generated track featuring remarkably accurate reproductions of Drake and The Weeknd’s voices, titled “Heart on My Sleeve”, has been submitted for consideration at the Grammy Awards. What sets this submission apart is the fact that neither Drake or The Weeknd were involved in its creation.
The enigmatic figure known as Ghostwriter, who gained notoriety for this AI-generated song in April, is vying for one of the music industry’s most prestigious accolades for a simulated duet. According to Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, in an interview with The New York Times, the track is indeed eligible for consideration, as it was ultimately composed by a human – Ghostwriter.
While the lyrics were penned by Ghostwriter, the vocal performances were ingeniously generated by a computer. The representative for Ghostwriter confirmed to the Times that “Heart on My Sleeve” has been submitted for both best rap song and song of the year. These awards are typically attributed to a song’s writers rather than its performers.
However, even if the track satisfies the creative criteria, Grammy regulations stipulate that songs must have “generation distribution”. This implies that they must be widely released through various channels including physical stores, online retailers, and streaming services. Initially, after its appearance on YouTube and streaming platforms, the song vanished, reportedly due to Universal Music issuing takedown notices. It has subsequently resurfaced through unofficial third-party uploads scattered across the internet and various streaming services. Given these copyright hurdles, achieving commercial success for “Heart on My Sleeve” is bound to be an uphill battle.
Mason elucidated on the Academy’s stance regarding AI earlier this summer, emphasizing that nominations and awards would not be conferred upon an AI computer or someone merely aided by AI. The key distinction lies in the acknowledgment of human creativity as the driving force behind excellence in music.
This clarification followed a detailed addition to the Recording Academy’s rules, explicitly stating that “a work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any Categories.” However, it’s noteworthy that the use of assistive AI is not categorically prohibited, as exemplified by Paul McCartney using computer technology to enhance an old John Lennon vocal track for a “new” Beatles song. This intriguing intersection of technology and creativity heralds a new era in the music industry, challenging conventional notions of authorship and artistic contribution.