Fraudsters using AI to release music in musicians’ names
Fans of award-winning singer Emily Portman were left puzzled when a purported new album appeared online under her name, titled Orca. Portman, amazed by the uncanny similarity of the track titles to her usual style, clicked to listen and was taken aback by the supposedly AI-generated voice that attempted to mimic her folk style.
AI-generated music is a prevalent trend online but is generally released under fake names or imitates popular artists. However, it is unusual for such music to be found on an artist’s official streaming pages. Portman, a recipient of the BBC Folk Award in 2013, expressed her unease with the situation, mentioning how the music lacked human creativity and sounded artificial.
The Orca album was incorrectly credited to her as the performer, writer, and copyright holder, with a mysterious producer named Freddie Howells attached. Portman’s decision to file copyright complaints led to the removal of the albums but left her questioning the lack of protection for artists and the increasingly dystopian nature of the music industry.
Joining Portman in this distressing experience was New York-based musician Josh Kaufman, who discovered strange new music released under his name. Kaufman highlighted the emotional toll of having his identity exploited for the sake of artificial music, emphasizing the significance of music as an expression of the soul.
A wave of fake tracks surfaced under the names of various Americana and folk-rock artists, all seemingly originating from the same source. These artists, like Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and Sam Beam, faced similar challenges in having fake music attributed to them, using AI-generated artwork and credits.
The unexpected influx of AI-generated music on the profiles of independent artists brought into question the legal protections in place for musicians. While platforms like Spotify acknowledged the issue and took steps to remove the fraudulent content, artists like Portman and Kaufman felt the lingering effects of the ordeal.
As the music industry continues to grapple with the rise of AI-generated content, artists remain vigilant in protecting their creative identities from exploitation. The case of Portman and Kaufman serves to underscore the vulnerabilities faced by independent musicians in an increasingly digital and automated landscape. The need for stronger safeguards and greater accountability for those responsible for releasing fraudulent music becomes ever more apparent, signaling a shift towards a more robust framework to protect the integrity of artists and their work.