The band The Velvet Sundown, popular on Spotify, admits use of AI technology in music creation
In a groundbreaking development, The Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated music project, has taken the music industry by storm, highlighting the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating not just music, but entire artist identities. This synthetic band, with its human creative direction, AI-composed, voiced, and visualized music, has blurred the lines between human creativity and AI-generated imitation.
The Velvet Sundown, a purely synthetic band, has raised questions about authorship in the music industry. All their music, lyrics, and even the band's images are created using AI tools. This synthetic nature of the band has sparked discussions about who should be considered the "author" of AI-created music. Is it the human guiding the AI, the AI itself, or a combination of both?
The rapid popularity of The Velvet Sundown, with over a million monthly listeners on Spotify, shows that AI-generated music can be well-received by audiences, potentially reshaping how music is perceived and consumed. However, this success also raises ethical debates about the use of AI in music, such as how it might affect the livelihoods of human musicians and the authenticity of artistic expression.
The project has also led to suspicions about its authenticity, with many speculating that The Velvet Sundown's music, images, and lack of digital footprint are AI-generated. These suspicions were confirmed when The Velvet Sundown admitted on its Spotify page that it is the work of generative AI.
The future of The Velvet Sundown is uncertain, with possibilities including an acrimonious breakup or the release of a third album. Regardless, the project's purpose remains an artistic provocation to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music in the age of AI.
The controversy surrounding The Velvet Sundown has brought attention to the ethical implications of AI-generated music and its impact on the music industry. Instagram user justminmusic raised the issue of AI-based music generators like the one used for The Velvet Sundown's tracks, suggesting they may steal the identity of real artists.
In a statement posted on its Instagram page, The Velvet Sundown denied any connection to Andrew Frelon, who had previously claimed responsibility for creating the project as an art hoax. The project's purpose, however, remains clear: to challenge traditional notions of creativity, authorship, and the role of technology in music production.
As generative-AI improves, it will become harder for music fans to tell the difference between human-made and AI-generated music. The Velvet Sundown serves as a reminder that the future of music may be more synthetic than we imagine.
The Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated music project, continues to challenge conventional notions of authorship, as its success and controversial nature spark debates about the ethical implications and potential impact on the music industry. As technology advances, the distinction between human-made and AI-generated music may become increasingly blurred, highlighting the growing influence of artificial intelligence in art and creativity.
