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The music company representing Brit Award-winning singer Jorja Smith has declared its desire to claim a share of royalties from a song it claims was produced using an artificial intelligence "replica" of the singer's unique voice.

The track, titled 'I Run' by British electronic duo Haven, gained widespread popularity on social media last October, partly due to its smooth soul vocals by an unnamed female vocalist.

Despite its momentum and impending top 40 entry in both UK and US, the track was subsequently banned by major streaming platforms after industry organizations issued copyright notices, stating it violated copyright by imitating another artist.

Although 'I Run' has since been re-released with completely new singing, Smith's label, FAMM, insists it believes the original recording was generated with AI programmed on her extensive work and is now pursuing appropriate compensation.

A Broader Principle at Stake

"This is not only about one artist. It's bigger than one artist or one song," the label stated in a public statement.

FAMM further expressed its belief that "each versions of the song violate Jorja's legal rights and unfairly benefit from the creative output of all the writers with whom she collaborates."

Famous for hits like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was named British Female Solo Artist at the annual Brit Awards in 2019.

Suggesting that her supporters were potentially deceived by Haven's original release, the label added: "We must not permit this to be the new normal."

Producers Acknowledge Using AI Technology

The team responsible for the song have openly confirmed utilizing AI in its creation.

Songwriter Harrison Walker explained that the original vocals were actually his own but were heavily altered using music-generation software Suno, often referred to as the "ChatGPT for music".

In addition, the other producer, Waypoint, identified as Jacob Donaghue, confirmed on social media that AI was used to "apply our original vocal a feminine quality".

Donaghue and Walker maintain that they wrote and produced the song themselves and have even provided files of their original production sessions.

"It shouldn't be mystery that I used AI-assisted vocal processing to transform exclusively my voice for 'I Run'," Walker elaborated.

"As a songwriter and maker, I enjoy experimenting with innovative technologies, methods and staying on the cutting edge of industry trends," he continued.

"To set the facts clear, the people behind HAVEN are actual and people, and all we aim to do is make enjoyable music for other humans."

Legal Gray Areas and Industry Impact

Although their original version of 'I Run' was suspended from major rankings, the replacement version managed to enter the UK Top 40 recently.

FAMM has framed the entire episode as a critical precedent for the entertainment sector's changing interaction with artificial intelligence.

The label stated it had "a duty to voice concerns" and "encourage wider discussion", because AI is proliferating at an "rapid rate and significantly outpacing legal oversight".

"Computer-created material should be transparently identified as such so that the public may choose whether they consume it or not," the statement continued.

Artists as 'Unintended Damage'

Smith shared her label's position on her personal social media profile.

The post warned that artists and songwriters were turning into "collateral damage in the competition by governments and tech firms towards AI dominance".

It further stated that the label would share any potential royalties with the writers behind Smith's catalogue.

"Should we are able in proving that AI assisted to write the lyrics and tune in 'I Run' and are granted a portion of the song, we would aim to allocate each of Jorja's collaborators with a corresponding share," it explained.

The Continuing Growth of Computer-Generated Music

The proliferation of algorithmically created music has been a source of both fascination and consternation for the entertainment world.

• In June, the group Velvet Sundown accumulated millions of streams before revealing they used AI to help craft their musical style.
• Last month, an AI-generated "performer" known as Breaking Rust topped a US country digital song sales chart, showing that audiences are not necessarily averse to hearing computer-generated music.
• Suno was last year sued for copyright infringement by the industry's three biggest record labels, but those legal actions have now been resolved.

Subsequently, Warner Music established a partnership with the company, which will enable users to create songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner artists who agree to the program.

Yet, it is uncertain how many well-known artists will consent to such uses of their work.

Recently, a collective of renowned musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush issued a vinyl album featuring silent songs or audio of empty studios in opposition to proposed changes to intellectual property regulations.

They argue these changes would make it simpler for AI companies to train systems using protected work without securing a license.