Is music under threat? Paul McCartney has used AI to finish an old Beatles song. Some are asking whether we need musicians at all?
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AI used to create one last Beatles song
Is music under threat? Paul McCartney has used AI to finish an old Beatles song. Some are asking whether we need musicians at all?
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What's happening?
The BeatlesAn English rock band formed in Liverpool in the 1960s. One of the most famous bands of all time. were one of the biggest bands of the 1960s. Their songs were popular all around the world. But they have not worked all together since 1969. In fact, two of the Beatles are dead. But the band is about to share a new song. How?
The answer is AIA computer programme that has been designed to think. . This week, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney said that he is using AI to finish a song by his bandmate John Lennon. He will use AI to copy Lennon's voice.
AI is on the rise in music. Earlier this year, an artist called Ghostwriter released a song made by AI in the style of pop stars Drake and The Weeknd. It had 230,000 plays on YouTube and 625,000 on Spotify.
On YouTube you can find AI-made tracks of Queen singer Freddie Mercury singing Michael Jackson songs, Kayne West covering Coldplay and Taylor Swift's current voice covering her old songs.
"It's kind of scary but exciting, because it's the future," says McCartney.
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Many musicians worry that they might lose their jobs to AI. AI is already being used to make the music that is played on speakers in cafes and shops. Some worry that you might not pay a guitarist when you could use AI instead.
AI music also raises big questions about who owns songs. If you make a song using Paul McCartney's voice, do you own it, does McCartney own it or does AI own it?
Some worry that AI might hurt creativityUsing imagination or ideas to make something new.. Instead of thinking up bright new ideas, musicians might just use AI for an easy shortcut. Nobody will create exciting new music.
Yet not everyone agrees. Some musicians say they love AI. Holly Herndon uses an AI version of her own voice - nicknamed Holly+ - to sing alongside her.
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Is music under threat?
Yes! AI music is a threatA possible source of danger. to musicians. It can be made almost for free, and does not need talent or skill.
No! We have to change as technology changes. Music today is very different to 100 or 1,000 years ago. This does not have to be a bad thing.
Keywords
The Beatles - An English rock band formed in Liverpool in the 1960s. One of the most famous bands of all time.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
Creativity - Using imagination or ideas to make something new.
Threat - A possible source of danger.
AI used to create one last Beatles song
Beatlemania: The Beatles have sold more than 600 million albums worldwide. Glossary
The Beatles - An English rock band formed in Liverpool in the 1960s. One of the most famous bands of all time.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
Creativity - Using imagination or ideas to make something new.
Threat - A possible source of danger.