Aide or adversary? The Beatles’ Brit Awards Song of the Year nomination has sparked renewed debate about AI’s ever-increasing presence in the music industry and what it means for UK artists
Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song official trailer
The Beatles have received a Brit Award nomination for the first time in 42 years, but the historic accolade has renewed debate about AI’s encroachment into the music industry.
Dubbed ‘the last Beatles song’, the 2023 single Now and Then is nominated for Song of the Year at this year’s award show and gained notoriety for its use of artificial intelligence. The ballad was originally a solo home demo recorded by John Lennon in 1977, but unlike other demos inherited by Paul McCartney, it was thought impossible to remix.
However, advanced AI and machine learning audio restoration technology enabled engineers to isolate Lennon’s voice and bring the track to new life. Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr mixed and updated the track, including guitar tracks from the late George Harrison as well.
All four members of The Beatles are credited as songwriters on the track which went on to receive widespread acclaim, though fans were dubious about the involvement of AI and feared that it was used to artificially regenerate Lennon’s performance.
McCartney was quick to stifle worries at the time of release, confirming Now and Then is “a genuine Beatles recording” but the song’s recent BRIT nomination has sparked renewed debate about AI infiltrating and hijacking the music industry.
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In a joint effort to protest the policy and drive awareness for music theft, 1,000 artists including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien recently released a ‘silent’ album entitled “Is This What We Want?” featuring recordings of vacant studios and performance spaces with a track listing spelling out the message: “The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.” All proceeds from this album will go to the musicians’ charity, Help Musicians.
The soundless album also acted as pushback to the UK government’s planned changes to copyright law. The new policy would enable AI developers to train and grow their models using copyrights under the guise of “text or data mining,” enabling them to get around the need for a license.
Queen’s Brian May, who supported the silent album, fears that musicians are already doomed. Speaking with the Daily Mail, May said: “My fear is that it’s already too late – this theft has already been performed and is unstoppable, like so many incursions that the monstrously arrogant billionaire owners of Al and social media are making into our lives. The future is already forever changed.”
Even McCartney expressed harsh criticism for the UK government’s failing of young musicians in a BBC interview earlier this year: “We’re the people, you’re the government! You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job. So you know, if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.”
In the interview, McCartney acknowledged the positive potential of AI as well, citing Now and Then as prime example: “”I think AI is great, and it can do lots of great things…We took an old cassette of John’s and cleaned his voice up so it sounded like it had just been recorded yesterday. So it has its uses. But it shouldn’t rip creative people off. There’s no sense in that.”
