đ Share this article Pop Vocalist the Artist's Record Company Takes Firm Position Regarding Viral 'AI Clone' Song Smith's vocals were allegedly copied in the production of the viral song, 'I Run'. The music company representing Brit Award-winning artist Jorja Smith has declared its intention to claim a share of earnings from a track it claims was created using an artificial intelligence "clone" of the performer's distinctive voice. The song, titled 'I Run' by British dance act Haven, achieved widespread traction on social media last October, partly due to its polished soul singing by an uncredited female vocalist. Although its momentum and potential top 40 position in the UK and US, the track was later banned by major music services after music bodies sent copyright requests, alleging it violated intellectual property law by impersonating another musician. Although 'I Run' has since been reissued with different singing, Smith's label, FAMM, insists it is convinced the original recording was generated with AI trained on her body of work and is now pursuing financial compensation. A Broader Issue at Stake "This is not only about Jorja. This is larger than a single performer or a single track," the label wrote in a public statement. FAMM further stated its view that "each versions of the song infringe on the artist's legal rights and unfairly benefit from the creative output of all the writers with whom she collaborates." Known for hits like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was named Best British Female at the prestigious Brit Awards in 2019. Implying that her fans were potentially deceived by Haven's first track, the label concluded: "Our industry cannot allow this to become the standard practice." Creators Admit Using AI Technology A producer confirmed the application of AI in a social media post. The team responsible for the track have publicly admitted utilizing AI in its creation. Songwriter Harrison Walker explained that the initial vocals were actually his own but were heavily manipulated using AI music software Suno, often called the "advanced tool for music". In addition, the other member, Waypoint, identified as Jacob Donaghue, confirmed on social media that AI was used to "apply our starting vocal a feminine quality". Donaghue and Walker maintain that they wrote and created the song themselves and have even shared files of their source computer files. "This is no mystery that I used AI-powered vocal processing to convert solely my voice for 'I Run'," Walker elaborated. "As a songwriter and maker, I enjoy using new tools, techniques and remaining on the forefront of what's happening," he continued. "To set the facts straight, the people behind HAVEN are actual and human, and all we want to do is make enjoyable music for other humans." Legal Uncertainty and Broader Implications Jorja Smith has received two Brit Awards, including the best female artist in 2019. While their first version of 'I Run' was blocked from major charts, the new version managed to enter the UK Top 40 recently. FAMM has framed the entire episode as a significant test case for the music industry's changing interaction with artificial intelligence. The label stated it had "an obligation to speak up" and "encourage wider discussion", because AI is advancing at an "alarming rate and significantly outpacing legal oversight". "Computer-created material should be clearly labelled as such so that the public may decide whether they listen to it or not," the statement added. Creators Become 'Collateral Victims' Smith shared her label's position on her own social media page. The text warned that artists and songwriters were becoming "unintended casualties in the competition by governments and corporations towards AI supremacy". It further stated that the label would distribute any potential royalties with the collaborators behind Smith's music. "If we are able in establishing that AI helped to compose the lyrics and melody in 'I Run' and are awarded a portion of the song, we would aim to assign every one of Jorja's co-writers with a corresponding share," it explained. The Ongoing Growth of AI Music The proliferation of AI-generated music has been a source of both interest and anxiety for the music industry. In the summer, the group Velvet Sundown accumulated vast numbers of streams before disclosing they used AI to aid develop their sound. Last month, an AI-generated "performer" called Breaking Rust topped a US genre sales chart, showing that audiences are not always opposed to hearing AI-made music. Suno was previously taken to court for alleged violations by the industry's three largest record labels, though those cases have now been resolved. Following this, Warner Music entered into a collaboration with the firm, which will enable users to create songs using the voices, names, and images of Warner acts who opt in to the service. However, it remains unclear how many established artists will consent to such uses of their identity. Just last week, a collective of prominent artists including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush released a vinyl album featuring tracks of silence or recordings of empty studios in protest to proposed changes to copyright law. They argue these amendments would make it simpler for AI companies to train systems using copyrighted work without obtaining a permission.