Spotify’s First Fully AI-Generated Albums Certified
- Venezuelan-born visual artist Pedro Sandoval has released two albums created entirely by artificial intelligence (AI) on Spotify, the first music of its kind certified by the streaming platform,...
- Sandoval, now based in Spain, worked with a couple of collaborators for three years to develop the two AI vocalists, dubbed ZKY-18 and Dirty Marilyn.
- An album launch party was held in Madrid last Saturday, presenting the two albums to international guests and personalities from the worlds of music and technology.
Venezuelan-born visual artist Pedro Sandoval has released two albums created entirely by artificial intelligence (AI) on Spotify, the first music of its kind certified by the streaming platform, amid mounting fears over AI in music, reports Euronews.
Sandoval, now based in Spain, worked with a couple of collaborators for three years to develop the two AI vocalists, dubbed ZKY-18 and Dirty Marilyn. The voices, while wholly AI-generated, sound remarkably real against the electronic scoring of songs like “El Beso de la Mujer Araña” (Kiss of the Spider Woman) and “Buscando Oro en Tu Corazón” (Searching for Gold in Your Heart).
An album launch party was held in Madrid last Saturday, presenting the two albums to international guests and personalities from the worlds of music and technology.
Sandoval is a staunch defender of AI as a tool, arguing that, when used well, it allows for the expansion of creative possibilities without substituting the essence of the artist. The value of works using AI, he told Euronews, “depends on the instructions and refinement that the artist applies to the process.”
[[See more: AI startups are being hit with copyright lawsuits from the world’s biggest music labels]
At the same time, there is mounting concern among musicians about the implications of the technology. Whether it’s AI stealing a real artist’s voice to cover an existing song, grifters slapping a real artist’s name on cheap AI-generated music to rack up streams or a producer churning out thousands of songs to be streamed by bots, the future of AI in music poses important ethical questions.
A global economic study released last December by the creators’ rights advocacy organisation Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Auteurs et Compositeurs (CISAC) found that use of generative AI in music is likely to enrich tech companies while “substantially jeopardising the income of human creators.” It estimated staggering losses of 4 billion euros (US$4.38 billion) annually by 2028 if the current rate of market penetration by generative AI continues. Streaming platforms like Spotify, the study argues, will play a critical role in the AI takeover as automated playlists push listeners toward AI tracks instead of human-made music.
The ballooning market for non-human authored music is expected to increase to 16 billion euros annually by 2028. While much of this will be background or incidental music, it still represents a significant shift away from human artists.
Speaking to Euronews last December, CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus – member of the famed group ABBA – echoed Sandoval’s view that AI can be a powerful tool for creators, under the right conditions. “[If] badly regulated, generative AI also has the power to cause great damage to human creators, to their careers and livelihoods,” he said.
AI-Generated Music: Q&A about the Future of Music
Table of Contents
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting various industries, and music is no exception. Artist Pedro Sandoval has released two albums created entirely with AI on Spotify, sparking debates about the role and impact of AI in music. Here are some frequently asked questions about this groundbreaking development.
The Basics of AI-Generated Music
What is AI-generated music?
AI-generated music is created using artificial intelligence algorithms,where AI models are trained on vast datasets of existing music to compose new pieces. these algorithms can mimic various styles and even create original compositions.
Who is Pedro Sandoval?
Pedro Sandoval is a Venezuelan-born visual artist based in Spain, recognized for creating the first music albums entirely generated by AI and certified by Spotify.He has experience using AI in art and film and now music.
What are the names of the AI vocalists used by Pedro Sandoval?
Pedro Sandoval utilized two AI vocalists named ZKY-18 and Dirty Marilyn to create the vocals for his AI-generated music albums.
The Albums and Thier Creation
What are the names of the songs?
The names of the songs include:
“El beso de la Mujer Araña” (Kiss of the Spider Woman)
“Buscando Oro en Tu Corazón” (Searching for Gold in Yoru Heart).
How long did it take to develop the AI vocalists?
It took Pedro Sandoval and his collaborators three years to develop the AI vocalists, ZKY-18 and Dirty marilyn.
Concerns and ethical Implications
What are the main concerns about AI in music?
Concerns among musicians include:
Copyright Issues: AI possibly stealing artists’ voices to cover existing songs
Misrepresentation: Using AI to create cheap music and falsely associating it with established artists
* Artificial Streaming: employing bots to inflate streams of AI-generated music, devaluing human-created content.
How could AI affect the income of human creators?
A study by CISAC estimates that the increasing market penetration of generative AI could lead to annual losses of approximately 4 billion euros (US$4.38 billion) for human creators by 2028.
How will streaming platforms impact the AI takeover in music?
Streaming platforms such as Spotify hold a important role as automated playlists further push listeners toward AI tracks rather than human-made music.
What is Björn UlvaeusS (ABBA) perspective on using AI in music?
Björn Ulvaeus believes AI can be a valuable tool for creators if properly regulated. However, he warns that poorly regulated AI could severely damage human creators’ careers and livelihoods.
The Market and Economic Impact
The market for non-human authored music is expected to reach 16 billion euros annually by 2028.
How dose Sandoval view the role of AI as a tool?
Sandoval views AI as a valuable tool that can expand creative possibilities without replacing the essence of the artist. He says the quality of AI-generated work ”depends on the instructions and refinement that the artist applies to the process.”
AI vs.Human-Created Music: A Comparison
| Feature | AI-Generated Music | Human-Created Music |
| :—————— | :—————————————————— | :———————————————————— |
| Creation | Generated by algorithms | Created by human composers, musicians, and artists |
| Authorship | Non-human | Human |
| Ethical Concerns | Copyright issues, income displacement for human artists | Fewer ethical concerns regarding authorship and compensation |
| Market Impact | Expected to grow significantly by 2028 | Facing potential revenue losses due to AI competition |
| Creativity | Dependent on data and programming | Driven by human emotion, experience, and creativity |