The person responsible for an AI-generated song that became viral earlier this year has decided to submit the track for consideration at the Grammy Awards. However, the Recording Academy has previously stated that AI-generated music is not eligible for such recognition. Nevertheless, Ghostwriter, the anonymous individual behind the song “Heart on My Sleeve,” has submitted it in the categories of Best Rap Song and Song of the Year, which are both prestigious songwriting honors. The Academy has indicated that it is open to rewarding songs that are predominantly written by humans, even if the actual recording is largely AI-generated.
Unlike many AI-generated songs, Ghostwriter composed the lyrics for “Heart on My Sleeve” instead of leaving that task to an AI system like ChatGPT. However, instead of personally performing the vocals, Ghostwriter employed a generative AI model to imitate the voices of popular artists Drake and The Weeknd, which helped the song gain widespread attention. Universal Music Group, the label representing these artists, was unhappy with this use of their voices and demanded that the song be removed from streaming services. However, prior to its removal, “Heart on My Sleeve” had amassed hundreds of thousands of listens on Spotify and over 15 million on TikTok.
Over the past few months, Ghostwriter and their team have been reaching out to industry insiders, including high-ranking members of the Recording Academy, in an effort to gain support for their Grammy submission. This proactive approach may increase Ghostwriter’s chances of winning a Grammy. Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stated that from a creative standpoint, the song is eligible since it was written by a human.
However, one major obstacle currently stands in Ghostwriter’s way. For a song to be eligible for a Grammy, it must have “general distribution” across the United States through various channels such as physical stores, online retailers, and streaming services. Ghostwriter is reportedly aware of this requirement but it remains unclear how they plan to address it.
Regardless, this situation could serve as a litmus test for recognizing the use of generative AI in art. Many artists and creators are concerned about the implications of using AI in the creative process. Some have accused the operators of generative AI systems of infringing on intellectual property rights and using unauthorized data to train their models. Additionally, the ongoing actors’ strike has highlighted the issue of fair compensation for the use of digital likenesses, which is another contentious point. The question of whether the output of generative AI models can be considered truly original work is also a subject of debate.
As the music industry continues to embrace technological advancements, the boundaries between human creativity and AI-generated content are becoming increasingly blurred. The case of Ghostwriter and “Heart on My Sleeve” challenges traditional notions of authorship and raises important discussions about the role of AI in the creation and recognition of artistic works. The Recording Academy’s response to this Grammy submission will undoubtedly shed light on how the industry views AI-generated art and its place within established frameworks of recognition and reward.