“Music” by Brandon Giesbrecht is licensed under CC BY 2.0
She had been dreaming of this day her whole life, that day where she would be celebrating her amazing success as a talented singer/ songwriter. It has been Rebecca’s dream since she was a little girl to be a famous musician, but people always thought her dreams were too big. Well, she proved them all wrong today, 3 of her songs were on the top 100 charts, all sitting above number 10, and one of them even being number 1 on the charts. Rebecca is taking in this moment as her team celebrates her achievements.
A couple days have gone by and Rebecca is back in the studio recording some new songs for her new album, when suddenly her manager comes running into the room.
“Rebecca!!” She said loudly, looking nervously at the singer.
“What’s up Michelle!” said Rebecca, now becoming nervous with what was to follow Michelle’s outburst.
“I just got word that there is a new artist that’s on the rise and their songs are ranking fast on the charts!”
She pauses and looks at Rebecca nervously.
“Okay… what’s that harm in that.” Rebecca says confused. This is not the first time there have been multiple artists climbing the charts fast at the same time.
“Well… umm.” Michelle stutters and coughs trying to avoid eye contact with Rebecca. “There songs are rising faster than yours.” Michelle looks nervously at Rebecca, afraid how she will react.
“Oh! Well then I guess we’ll just have to get to work creating a song that is sure to reach number 1!” Says Rebecca enthusiastically.
“Um, well that’s not the worst part.” Says Michelle looking for a way to tell the positive artist the next part of the news.
Rebecca stares blankly at her manager.
“The new artist is… is um.” Michelle struggles to say the next part.
“Is what!!” Rebecca says annoyed, not understanding what was so hard to tell her.
“The new artist is an Artificial Intelligence’s Robot named T.U.N.E.!” Yells Michelle really fast.
“What!” Yells Rebecca, now confused.
“I said, the new singer is an Artific-” Rebecca cuts Michelle off.
“I heard what you said, but how?” Rebecca is now confused and frustrated with her manager.
“How is that even possible, how can a Robot even sing and become famous?” Rebecca says confused.
“The Robot is an Artificially Intelligent Robot which basically means that this is a software that starts analyzing data, and in this case musical data. Through the A.I’s research they can learn different patterns and create music through their knowledge of what sounds good in each genre and copy it to make music that is pleasing to the ear. This is all done through computer generated software that was all put into an Artificially Intelligent Robot who goes by the name T.U.N.E.!” Michelle says proudly because she remembered all of that.
“Wow, how did you know all of that?” says Rebecca.
“I did my research! But that’s not the point, the point is, there is a robot out there that is not only trying to take your job, but so many artist jobs! It would be completely different if it were just another human artist but it’s not, it’s a robot, it’s basically cheating if you ask me.” Says Michelle angrily.
“You’re right Michelle, it is basically cheating. This robot isn’t talented, it’s just a bunch of wires and software. I’ve worked my entire life for this, constantly pushing myself to become better, to learn new instruments, new techniques when it comes to my voice and my songs. This robot could easily change with the push of a button which is not fair!” Rebecca says with an upset tone.
The singer seems to be upset, she feels as though all of the years she has put into her craft are slowly going down the drain just because of some robot.
“What are we going to do!” Michelle says worriedly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out, I always do!” Rebecca says with a smile.
Michelle and the team smile at the singer. They can see the gears in her head turning, she’s coming up with a plan. Rebecca dismisses her team early so that she can go home and get to planning.
When she gets home, she sits down at her computer and starts looking up who this T.U.N.E. robot really is. She starts googling. This is what comes up,
“T.U.N.E. is an Artificially Intelligent robot that is made up of high tech software and algorithms that can create music by analyzing and collecting data from any type of music ever made to create its own music.” Rebecca furrows her brow,
“Isn’t that technically violating copyrights?”
She says to herself in her empty home. The article continues on to talk about how T.U.N.E.’s music does not infringe on copyright because of how tricky the current law on copyright is, it does not differ between humans and things that are not humans like robots.
“Oh, well that’s not fair in the slightest.” Rebecca says in frustration.
She decides to start looking through some of T.U.N.E.’s social media and listen to some of their music. Their social media is filled with pictures of them in the studio and their records they’ve made. She decides to read through some of the comments on their Instagram to see what the public is thinking about this robot singer.
@muisclover124 says “This is amazing, a robot singer! What a dream! This is going to change the music industry forever.”
Well that’s not what she wants to hear.
@nsummerlin115 says “I’m not sure how I feel about this. The music is great but the copyright is so up in the air. The music is great but I can’t help but think that this is wrong. How many artists could lose their jobs because of this.”
Now that’s what she wants to hear. She wanted to know that people were on her side of things and that they were thinking what she was thinking. She continued to look through the comments and there was such a mix of negative and positive comments that she really could not tell where the public was at with this whole robot thing. She sat there thinking about what she could do about this while some of T.U.N.E.’s music played in the background. All of the sudden the beat to T.U.N.E.’s song started to sound familiar, it sounded just like her hit song “Ruby”. She stands up, furious.
“Are you kidding me right now, that robot stole my beat.” But then she remembers the whole copyright issue and how it does not pertain to robots.
“Ugh! This is so frustrating! This robot is getting all of this praise for doing the bare minimum, while other artists and I actually work so hard all for a robot to come in and destroy our careers! I’m not going to let this happen, not to me not to anyone!” Rebecca exclaims.
She gets to work researching and coming up with a plan that is sure to defeat T.U.N.E. and to show the public what real living artists can actually do! The next day Rebecca goes into the studio and her whole team is already there. She sits them down to talk.
“I came up with a plan on how to stop T.U.N.E.!” Rebecca says excited.
“Awesome let’s hear it!” Says her manager Michelle.
Rebecca opens up her computer and shows them what she had been working on all night. She needs her team to help her put this all together.
“So it’s basically like Live Aid!” Says one of the people on her team.
“Exactly! Only we can’t call it that because the name was already trademark. Now obviously I know that this is not going to be as amazing as the original Live Aid, but I have a feeling that doing this will help us get the point across that we can’t have some robot stealing our jobs!” Rebecca says to her team trying to get them excited.
Her team looks at her and grins.
“Were on it!” They all say.
Rebecca smiles, her plan is finally coming true. Her team gets to work planning a huge concert to raise awareness of the issue that if robots become normal in this industry then so many amazing, talented artists will lose their jobs. Rebecca starts contacting other artists that she knows to see if they would want to perform at this concert and help spread the word. After contacting people Rebecca decides to sit down and start writing music, some new songs that will help the concert even more. A couple of days went by and the word had been spread and the concert was a go. The concert would happen in 3 days time. Rebecca was extremely nervous about the whole thing, but her excitement pushed all of her nerves down because she felt like she was going to be helping so many people. All of the sudden her phone starts to ring with an unknown number showing up. She decides to answer it.
“Hello?” Rebecca says into the phone wondering who it could be.
“Is this the artist known as Rebecca?” The voice says on the other end, she didn’t recognize the voice, it almost sounded automated.
“Yes this is she, can I ask who’s calling?” Rebecca says.
“This is T.U.N.E., you know the robot you’re trying so hard to get rid of.” T.U.N.E. says angrily through the phone.
Rebecca’s eyes widen, she looks at her team, and mouths that T.U.N.E. is on the phone, she puts the phone on speaker.
“Hello T.U.N.E., it’s nice to actually speak with you, I’m sorry if the concert that I am organizing got us off on the wrong foot, however your entire existence got us off on the wrong foot.” Rebecca says with a smirk. T.U.N.E. makes a strange noise for the other end of the phone.
“I am sorry to hear that Rebecca, I just thought I would let you know that I will be at your concert letting the people know who I really am and that I do not have any ill intentions and I do not wish to hurt anyone’s careers.” T.U.N.E. says in what sounds like a frustrated tone.
T.U.N.E. ‘s voice sounds so fake that Rebecca doesn’t even understand how their music sounds good.
“That’s fine by me!” Rebecca says in a condescending tone.
“But just know that no matter if you have ill intentions or not, that what you are doing is wrong, and I am going to put a stop to it.” Rebecca quickly hangs up the phone.
“We are so going to beat that robot.” Rebecca says to her team.
It’s finally the day of the concert and Rebecca is filled with all sorts of emotions. All of the people that are performing have showed up and the venue that they chose is also starting to fill. Rebecca is filled with joy, but that joy is suddenly ruined when she hears a shrill voice behind her say her name.
“Rebecca!” Says T.U.N.E. in their very fake voice.
Rebecca cringes,
“T.U.N.E.! I’m so glad you were able to make it!” Rebecca says.
Looking at the strange figure. T.U.N.E. ‘s design is very strange, they’re an average height, not taller than Rebecca, well no one is really taller than Rebecca, she’s 6’ft. T.U.N.E.’s body was a sad excuse for a body, it was trying to look human all while wires and buttons stuck out of it. Lastly the face, don’t even get started with that, it was the creepiest thing Rebecca had ever seen. It was trying to look life all while looking fake and plastic. Nothing about T.U.N.E. was real, they were the fakest thing Rebecca has ever seen.
“Yes, I made it, and I see you got quite a turn out, now I should be on my way, I wouldn’t want to miss the show.” T.U.N.E. rolls their eyes and walks away.
Rebecca cringes, and her manager looks at her.
“Well, that things going to give me nightmares.” Michelle says while laughing.
Rebecca giggles, suddenly she hears a voice through her earpiece.
“It’s time to start Rebecca.” The voice says.
Rebecca smiles and walks out onto the stage. The crowd roars with excitement as the singer walks out onto the stage.
“Hi everyone, I’m so glad you all could make it! How is everyone feeling tonight!” Rebecca exclaims into the microphone.
The crowd cheers super loud. Rebecca spots T.U.N.E. out in the crowd, their wiry arms crossed. Rebecca rolls her eyes.
“As you all know, otherwise you wouldn’t be here, there is a robot out there threatening not only my job but so many people’s jobs! I am here to put an end to and to show you what real live singer/ songwriters can really do!” Rebecca yells in excitement. The crowd screams.
“Are you ready for some music!” Rebecca yells.
The crowd screams
“YES!”
Rebecca walks off the stage and one of the artists she asked for help kicks off the show. Rebecca and her team stand backstage basking in the glory of it all. The show feels like it went by in a flash and it was one Rebecca’s turn to get out onto the stage and perform. As she walks out she notices that T.U.N.E. is still standing in the crowd.
Rebecca grabs the microphone,
“Hey everyone, this song is new and unreleased, it’s called ‘Alive.’ I hope you all like it.” Rebecca says excitedly into the microphone.
As Rebecca starts to perform she really gets into it and starts giving the performance of a lifetime. Mid way through her set she notices T.U.N.E. leaving, she smiles knowing that she did it, she made the robot realize that it couldn’t beat the talent and drive of all of these amazing artists. Rebecca finishes her set,
“Thank you all for coming to support your favorite artists! It really means a lot to all of us! I hope you all enjoyed the show! Goodnight!”
Rebecca screams into the microphone, she’s filled with adrenaline. She walks backstage with a big smile and feeling accomplished.
“Rebecca, look!” Michelle yells, while shoving her phone in Rebecca’s face.
Rebecca looks at the phone, T.U.N.E. had deleted all of their social media.
Rebecca smiles and sighs in relief, “We did it!” She says, proud of what she had just accomplished.
Bibliography
Deahl, Dani. “How AI-Generated Music Is Changing the Way Hits Are Made.” The Verge, August 31, 2018. https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/31/17777008/artificial-intelligence-taryn-southern-amper-music.
This article does a great job explaining how A.I. has been worked into music and how artists have been using it to help them create different types of sound. It talks about different companies that use it and different ways it’s been used.
Deahl, Dani. “We’ve Been Warned about AI and Music for over 50 Years, but No One’s Prepared.” The Verge, April 17, 2019. https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18299563/ai-algorithm-music-law-copyright-human.
This article does a great job explaining how A.I. and copyright infringement works. It tells the reader exactly how A.I. cannot get in trouble because the law has not been defined between humans and non humans yet.
Marr, Bernard. “The Amazing Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming The Music Industry.” Forbes. Accessed March 25, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2019/07/05/the-amazing-ways-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-the-music-industry/.
This article does an amazing job explaining how A.I. works and how it has been incorporated into the music industry. It also explains when A.I. was introduced into the music industry and it talks about how people feel about it.