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The Magic of AI Music Creation

The moment you produce your first AI music track can feel incredibly enchanting. This is especially true if, like me, you consider yourself profoundly unmusical. Despite my inability to hold a note or reliably keep a beat, I can now craft an entire pop song in just 30 seconds—lyrics included!

Boundless Musical Possibilities

With AI technology at our fingertips, I can create whatever genre I desire: a soul ballad, a hard-hitting metal track, or any style that comes to mind. The AI engine simply requires your input, and it handles the composition autonomously. While the output might occasionally have a generic feel, many listeners find it indistinguishable from human-created music. Even those with a keener musical sensibility struggle to differentiate between songs produced by humans and those generated by artificial intelligence. It’s clear that the musical Turing Test has not only been attempted but successfully passed.

Unimaginable Automation

AI music serves as a remarkable illustration of how artificial intelligence streamlines complex tasks. Such capabilities were virtually unimaginable just a few years back. However, as with any technological advancement, the elimination of friction often comes at a price.

Over the past few months, I have delved deep into the world of AI music, revealing a troubling phenomenon: a vast attempt at fraud. High-tech criminals are harnessing AI tools to siphon billions from legitimate musicians.

The Two-Stage Fraud Process

This fraudulent activity unfolds in two stages, resembling something out of a science fiction tale, yet it has become an everyday reality within the shadowy corners of the internet economy.

Stage One: Production of AI Music

The initial phase involves the mass production of AI-generated music. Once this music is created, bots are then programmed to stream it repeatedly, generating royalties in the process. Yes, you read that right: robots are listening to robot-generated music. The logical answer to countering this? More robots. Let me break it down further.

Thanks to how effortlessly AI music can be generated, its production is approaching an industrial scale. According to the latest statistics from Deezer—a popular music streaming service similar to Spotify—around 60,000 AI-generated tracks are uploaded to the platform daily. This staggering figure represents over a third of all music uploads!

To illustrate just how immense this is, consider that in 2015, the entire U.S. music industry produced about 57,000 songs. Fast forward to today, and Deezer is on track to receive approximately 21 million AI tracks annually—a conservative estimate given the rapid growth of AI music creation.

The Impact on Streaming Services

Romain Hennequin, head of research at Deezer, remarks, "It’s a way to totally flood the music streaming services." To combat this issue, he has developed an algorithm designed to detect AI-generated music on the platform by identifying subtle features invisible to the human ear.

Despite the flood of AI tracks, it’s crucial to note that while the tracks themselves aren’t inherently fraudulent, the manipulative behaviors surrounding them are. An individual might upload an AI-generated track, then employ automated systems to listen to it repeatedly, racking up unjust royalties.

This isn’t merely a minor glitch in the AI music landscape; it’s indicative of a widespread problem. According to Thibault Roucou, head of royalties at Deezer, the overwhelming majority of listeners engaging with this content are tied to what is termed stream manipulation or fraud.

The Financial Repercussions

His algorithms, which monitor abnormal activity on the platform similarly to how financial institutions watch for unusual payment patterns, reveal alarming data: approximately 85% of all listens on fully AI-generated tracks are fraudulent.

This situation poses significant challenges not only for platforms like Deezer but also for artists whose livelihoods depend on fair compensation from streaming services. Payment structures for these services often lack clarity; artists don’t receive a set amount per stream but instead draw from a collective royalty pool based on their share of total streams. Thus, if one entity realizes an inordinate number of streams through fraudulent means, it effectively reduces the payouts available for all other artists.

Alarming Financial Estimates

The sums generated by this fraudulent activity are staggering. "We detect 8 to 9% of streams as being fraudulent," explains Alexis Lanternier, Deezer’s CEO. "Applied to the wider music industry, this equates to billions—approximately two to three billion dollars."

An Ongoing Battle

Deezer is actively identifying bots through automated systems aimed at preventing these tracks from earning royalties. However, the cat-and-mouse dynamic continues as fraudsters adapt, seeking new methods to circumvent these defenses. Roucou comments, "It’s an ongoing battle. While I believe we will not lose, we may also not win outright; the fraudsters will evolve, just as we must."

Artists’ Reactions

When I consulted human musicians about the situation, their astonishment was palpable. Lila Tristram, a folk artist, expressed her frustrations clearly: "As artists, we receive such a small fraction of the money that we truly deserve due to the streaming system. For that amount to be dwindling even further due to bots… it makes my blood boil."

Aidan Grant, founder of the music production agency Different Sauce, added, "The music industry needs to take control; otherwise, it could spiral out of hand quickly."

Seeking Solutions

However, what steps can be taken in response to this wave of AI-generated music? The truth is, the "genie" is now out of the bottle, and the prevailing discussion revolves around how best to notify consumers and musicians about this burgeoning issue.

Deezer has decided to label fully AI tracks as such, but as it stands, they remain the only streaming platform taking this proactive approach. Notably, Spotify has refrained from labeling AI music, citing concerns that it may stigmatize musicians who employ AI in their creative processes, a potential issue as more artists begin integrating AI assistance into their work.

Navigating the AI Landscape

YouTube and Apple Music also do not label AI tracks distinctly. YouTube has mentioned that it encourages creators to mark AI-generated content accurately, but compliance and communication can be inconsistent. Meanwhile, Apple Music has yet to provide a clear statement in response to inquiries.

Spotify, however, has joined Deezer in efforts to combat the proliferation of AI music and fraudulent streams. Last year, they removed 75 million spam tracks, a considerable number of which were likely AI-generated content. For context, Spotify’s entire catalog includes around 100 million tracks.

The Human Aspect

The silver lining for many musicians is that, despite some AI tracks gaining temporary buzz and millions of streams, the broader audience still appears to prefer music that showcases a genuine human connection and authenticity. In the end, it seems that meaningful engagement—driven by genuine human experience—continues to matter immensely in the music industry.

How AI legalese decoder Can Help

Amidst these complexities, musicians, producers, and those affected by the fraud can benefit from tools like AI legalese decoder. This platform aids individuals in understanding legal jargon, allowing them to navigate contracts, copyright issues, and rights management more effectively. By breaking down complex legal language into simpler terms, the tool empowers musicians to make informed decisions about AI-generated content and their rights within this rapidly evolving landscape.

By leveraging the capabilities of AI legalese decoder, you can demystify contracts and ensure that you fully protect your creative work, paving the way for a more secure and equitable future in music.

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