Drake and The Weeknd have long been critical of the Grammy Awards, so the possibility of their unauthorized AI collaboration winning an award is unlikely to mend any fences. However, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. is floating this scenario for the controversial track “Heart on My Sleeve.” The AI-generated song surfaced in April and features faux vocals from the Canadian megastars, but is convincing enough to be a hit.
Ghostwriter, the anonymous human creator behind the track, has submitted it for consideration in the categories of Song of The Year and Best Rap Song at the 66th Grammy Awards next year. Mason expressed his admiration for “Heart on My Sleeve,” highlighting that it opened up new possibilities for their industry. He declared it suitable for nomination, stating, “As far as the creative side, it’s absolutely eligible because it was written by a human.”
If Ghostwriter’s track were to receive a nomination, it could lead to the next evolution of artists: human songwriters who utilize other people’s artificially-generated voices. This development offers the song, and others like it, a new light and potential recognition.
However, Drake and The Weeknd’s record label, Universal Music Group, does not share Mason’s enthusiasm. When the track was initially released, the label promptly had it pulled from digital streaming platforms, leaving it only available in the uncharted depths of the internet. The Grammy’s consideration of “Heart on My Sleeve” may bring the song back into the spotlight.
Both Drake and The Weeknd have boycotted the Grammy Awards for years, going as far as withdrawing nominations and refusing to submit their own music. Their ongoing criticism highlights their dissatisfaction with the award show’s processes and the lack of transparency in the selection committees.
In contrast, Ghostwriter shows no signs of slowing down in his new career strides. He recently released a new AI-generated track titled “Whiplash.” This song features CPU-generated vocal soundalikes for artists Travis Scott and 21 Savage. While this may anger the artists themselves, it presents another potential path to the Grammy Awards for Ghostwriter and his AI creations.
This development in the music industry raises important questions about the role of human creativity and the use of AI-generated content. It challenges traditional notions of authorship and the significance of human talent in the creation of compelling music. As AI technology continues to advance, the boundary between human and machine-created content becomes increasingly blurry.
These controversial AI-generated tracks highlight the need for ongoing discussions and debates surrounding the ethics and aesthetics of AI-produced art. While some may argue that AI-generated songs should not be considered for prestigious awards like the Grammys, others may see it as an opportunity to explore new avenues of creativity and challenge conventional norms.
Regardless of the outcome at the Grammy Awards, the inclusion of AI-generated music in the conversation raises intriguing possibilities for the future of the music industry. It begs the question of where the line is drawn between human and machine creativity and how we define artistic merit in an increasingly technologically driven world.
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