drake’s anger mirrors a growing debate over AI in music
He is frustrated. A couple of weeks back a video surfaced showing an influential Canadian rapper performing a track he did not authorize. The artificial voice was not his; it was a synthetic creation powered by artificial intelligence. The reaction on Instagram was strong. The industry itself is learning to cope with the rise of this technology that can imitate artists’ voices.
New songs can now be generated using a favorite AI tool. In recent months, engineers have built programs that can learn and replicate an artist’s vocal modulation and timing. This means fans can hear fake versions of popular songs or entirely new lyrics sung in someone else’s voice.
The trend is taking root on platforms such as TikTok where some clips went viral. Examples include Rihanna styled content related to a recent release, a Drake track reimagined as Ariana Grande, and a Justin Bieber song reinterpreted by Kanye West. Creating songs with others’ voices has never been easier.
Frederic Font, a researcher in the Music Technology group at Pompeu Fabra University, notes that the potential is large but the field remains experimental. He is set to discuss AI and music at Sónar +D, a major event this year focusing on how artificial intelligence shapes art. He observes that much AI research aims not to overhaul creativity but to aid artists in thinking differently, offering new possibilities. From that vantage point, the development is not uncharted but a continuation of how new tools have historically entered music.
record label scare
There is real concern about content created without the consent of the original artists. Labels and managers are speaking up. Universal Music Group has urged the major streaming platforms to prevent AI programs from accessing catalogs to train their models. They warned they will take action to defend artists’ rights.
Font adds that training with data in music is still limited compared with images or text, so current AI outputs may be rough. The long term impact will depend on how society weighs these possibilities and how the technology evolves. Sony Music has opted not to publicly assess the situation at this time.
From Drake to the AI resurrection
Recently a TikTok user posted a track called Heart on My Sleeve, created with AI to imitate Drake and The Weeknd. The clip reached millions of views and then appeared on Spotify and Apple Music, where it drew hundreds of thousands of listeners in a short span. Within days the track disappeared from major platforms, though it continued to circulate elsewhere. Questions arose about the motivations behind the posting and the rules around copyright and platform policies. TikTok stated that their policy prohibits content that infringes the intellectual property rights of others.
The week also featured a revival narrative for Oasis through AI. A fake meeting of the Gallagher brothers, nicknamed AISIS, sparked debate about whether AI poses a threat to artists. Font argues the risk is not a sudden attack but a transformation. The impact will hinge on listener attitudes and the evolving relationship between music, files, and technology.
battle for copyright
Universal’s stance reflects a broader concern about pseudo-generative AI and automation across professions. The use of AI to imitate voices prompts questions about copyright and the way content is produced. Illustrators and visual artists have already mobilized against tools that imitate styles, and record labels may follow. Font suggests that copyright concepts may need rethinking in the digital age, especially in musical creation where new methods repeatedly challenge old norms. This is a pivotal moment for policy and practice.
AI in music extends beyond voice replication. Google has developed MusicLM, a language model capable of generating music from text prompts. It has not been released due to concerns about misuse, underscoring fresh industry challenges as AI capabilities grow.
artistic opportunity
The idea that computers can assist in composing music has early roots dating back to the 1950s. Font notes that rapid advances in computing expand possibilities that some artists see as creative opportunities rather than threats. History shows artists have long experimented with new tools, from early randomness experiments to modern synthesis. Some musicians have already used AI to push their creativity into new directions while others resist its use out of concern for authenticity and control.
In many cases artists themselves clone their voices to innovate, while third parties seeking to exploit these capabilities pose a risk. DJ and producer David Guetta has used AI to simulate Eminem’s voice, but he has stated he would not market such a creation. The industry response is likely to involve safeguards, licensing, and clearer rules around who can train AI on what material.
Platforms have started to adapt. Spotify has been quietly developing AI tools that help users compose and remix synthetic music from multiple artists, and Apple Music acquired a startup focused on AI music last year. In the United Kingdom, authorities are examining whether artificial music can carry intellectual property rights. The future remains uncertain, but the trajectory is clear: AI will shape how music is made and owned, and rules will have to evolve accordingly. [Citation: Font, UPF; Industry reports]