In an electrifying announcement that’s shaking up the music industry, singer-songwriter Grimes has rolled out the red carpet for artists to generate new songs using AI-generated versions of her voice. Grimes, also known by her birth name, Claire Boucher, is throwing the doors wide open for the fusion of music and technology, staking her claim as a trailblazer in the space where art meets AI.
In the spirit of collaboration and open innovation, Grimes has committed to a 50-50 royalty split with creators of successful AI-generated songs that feature her voice. To kick-start this exciting initiative, she’s planning to upload vocal stems to her website to equip artists with the tools they need to create. “I think it’s cool to be fused with a machine and I like the idea of open sourcing all art and killing copyright,” Grimes declared in a tweet that has since sparked a flurry of conversations online.
Her bold move comes hot on the heels of recent controversy in the music industry. Not too long ago, a song hit streaming platforms that used AI to mimic the voices of music heavyweights Drake and The Weeknd. The song was pulled amid claims from major record labels that it violated copyright law. But Grimes? She’s flipping the script and embracing the chaos.
While Grimes is giving artists the green light to use her voice in AI-generated songs, she isn’t relinquishing all control. She’s made it clear that she retains the right to bring the hammer down on any use of her voice in lyrics she considers “toxic.” But a little chaos? She’s all in for it. “Grimes is an art project, not a music project. The ultimate goal has always been to push boundaries rather than have a nice song,” she quipped.
This isn’t the “Oblivion” singer’s first dance with AI. Her 2018 hit, “We Appreciate Power,” is a head-banging ode to artificial intelligence. But while she’s singing the praises of AI, her former partner, tech mogul Elon Musk, is pumping the brakes. Musk recently put his name to an open letter calling for a six-month pause on AI development, citing “profound risks to society and humanity.”
In the grand concert of the music industry, Grimes has chosen to play her own tune, and it’s one that’s set to a decidedly digital beat. As she invites others to join her in this AI-powered symphony, we’re all left wondering: What will the future of music sound like? And more importantly, are we ready for the encore? Only time—and Grimes—will tell.