Singers Offered AI Voice Cloning by World’s Biggest Record Label – Ultimate Classic Rock

The worlds biggest record label, Universal Music Group, announced plans to offer its artists AI models of their own voices.

The corporations deal with digital startup firm SoundLabs will create software called MicDrop, designed to replicate an individual voice via machine learning techniques. The artist will retain full control of the model it wont be used in any way without permission, wont be available to the public, and the voice owner will profit from its use.

MidDrop is the latest iteration of technology thats been under development for years and has already begun impacting the music industry. Practical uses include being able to sing in foreign languages without having learned them; being able to create music after health issues prevent ones vocal cords from working; and even allowing music to be made after ones death.

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In addition, the voice model can by used like the voices on a synthesizer, offering additional creative opportunities. While its use as an onstage tool remain to be revealed, it could theoretically be used by a singer like Jon Bon Jovi who fears he may never tour again as a result of health issues to stay on the road.

MicDrop is the first in a suite of interoperable AI tools and services developed by SoundLabs for sound design and music generation, UMG said in a statement. It gives artists new music super-powers and completely reimagines how music is made, enabling them to expand what is possible.

SoundLabs goal is to place powerful new compositional tools at artists fingertips, while supporting proper management of their intellectual property. SoundLabs is focused on helping artists retain creative control over their data and models.

We believe the future of music creation is decidedly human, said BT, musician and boss of SoundLabs which uses the tagline Transform your voice into any voice, instantly. He continued: Artificial intelligence, when used ethically and trained consensually, has the promethean ability to unlock unimaginable new creative insights, diminish friction in the creative process and democratize creativity We are designing tools not to replace human artists, but to amplify human creativity.

Chris Horton, SVP of UMG which recently revealed its Principles for Music Creation With AI added: UMG strives to keep artists at the center of our AI strategy, so that technology is used in service of artistry, rather than the other way around.

We are thrilled to be working with SoundLabs and BT, who has a deep and personal understanding of both the technical and ethical issues related to AI. SoundLabs will allow UMG artists to push creative boundaries using voice-to-voice AI to sing in languages they dont speak, perform duets with their younger selves, restore imperfect vocal recordings, and more.

Music lives on long after the artists who create it are gone. Sometimes, lucky fans even get to enjoy new songs afterward.

Gallery Credit: Corey Iwwin

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Singers Offered AI Voice Cloning by World's Biggest Record Label - Ultimate Classic Rock