đź”— Share this article Pop Singer Jorja Smith's Record Company Takes a Firm Position Regarding Popular 'AI Copy' Song The artist's vocals were allegedly copied in the production of the hit song, 'I Run'. The record label representing award-winning singer Jorja Smith has stated its intention to claim a share of royalties from a song it claims was created using an AI "replica" of the singer's distinctive voice. The track, titled 'I Run' by British electronic duo Haven, gained massive traction on social media in October, in part due to its polished R&B singing by an uncredited female singer. Although its success and potential top 40 position in both UK and US, the song was subsequently removed by major music services after music bodies issued takedown notices, alleging it breached intellectual property law by impersonating another artist. Even though 'I Run' has since been re-released with different vocals, Smith's label, FAMM, maintains it is convinced the original recording was generated with AI programmed on her extensive work and is now pursuing appropriate compensation. A Broader Principle at Stake "This isn't just about one artist. It's bigger than one artist or a single track," the label stated in a recent announcement. FAMM further expressed its belief that "both iterations of the track infringe on Jorja's legal rights and unjustly benefit from the creative output of all the writers with whom she works." Known for hits like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was crowned British Female Solo Artist at the prestigious Brit Awards in 2019. Implying that her fans were possibly misled by Haven's first track, the label concluded: "We must not allow this to be the new normal." Creators Acknowledge Employing AI Tools One producer admitted the application of AI in a public post. The duo behind the song have openly admitted utilizing AI in its production process. Songwriter Harrison Walker clarified that the original voice were actually his own but were extensively manipulated using music-generation software Suno, often referred to as the "advanced tool for music". Meanwhile, the second producer, Waypoint, whose real name is Jacob Donaghue, confirmed on social media that AI was used to "apply our original vocal a female quality". Donaghue and Walker assert that they wrote and created the song themselves and have even provided files of their source computer files. "It shouldn't be secret that I used AI-powered vocal processing to transform exclusively my voice for 'I Run'," Walker elaborated. "As a songwriter and maker, I like experimenting with innovative technologies, methods and staying on the forefront of what's happening," he added. "In order to set the facts clear, the artists behind HAVEN are real and human, and all we aim to do is make enjoyable music for other humans." Legal Uncertainty and Industry Implications The singer has won multiple Brit Awards, among them the top female honor in 2019. Although their first version of 'I Run' was blocked from official charts, the new version did break into the UK Top 40 recently. FAMM has positioned the incident as a significant test case for the music industry's evolving relationship with artificial intelligence. The label stated it had "an obligation to voice concerns" and "encourage wider discussion", because AI is proliferating at an "alarming rate and substantially outpacing legal oversight". "Computer-created content should be clearly identified as such so that the audience may choose whether they listen to it or not," the message added. Creators Become 'Unintended Damage' Smith shared her label's statement on her own social media profile. The text warned that artists and creators were becoming "unintended casualties in the competition by policymakers and corporations towards AI supremacy". It further noted that the label would share any awarded songwriting credits with the writers behind Smith's music. "If we are successful in proving that AI helped to compose the words and melody in 'I Run' and are awarded a share of the song, we would seek to assign each of Jorja's co-writers with a pro-rata share," it explained. The Continuing Rise of Computer-Generated Music The proliferation of algorithmically created music has been a topic of both fascination and anxiety for the entertainment world. In the summer, the band Velvet Sundown gathered vast numbers of plays before revealing they used AI to aid craft their sound. Last month, an AI-generated "artist" known as Breaking Rust led a US country sales chart, demonstrating that listeners are not always averse to hearing AI-made music. Suno was last year sued for alleged violations by the world's major largest record labels, though those cases have now been resolved. Subsequently, Warner Music established a partnership with the firm, which will allow users to generate songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner acts who opt in to the service. Yet, it is unclear how many established musicians will consent to such uses of their work. Recently, a group of renowned musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush released a vinyl album featuring silent songs or recordings of empty studios in protest to potential changes to copyright law. They contend these amendments would make it simpler for AI companies to train systems using copyrighted work without obtaining a permission.