YouTube has approved the development of a new artificial intelligence tool, enabling individuals to mimic the voices of their beloved music stars.
According to Billboard, this upcoming tool aims to give users the exciting ability to incorporate the voices of their favorite music stars into their videos. However, eager users will have to wait longer for its beta release. The delay is primarily due to ongoing negotiations between record companies and YouTube as they work towards a mutually beneficial agreement.
The AI tool allows chosen artists to let creators use their voices in videos, which can then be shared with the public. Additionally, YouTube is also letting these selected artists contribute ideas to improve the company’s AI strategy.
The video streaming app wanted to launch the new product in September during its Made On YouTube event. Unfortunately, big music labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group are still in the process of finalizing licensing deals with YouTube for artists’ voice rights.
While some notable music executives are embracing this advanced technology, others are concerned about relinquishing their negotiating power in these agreements. These executives also worry about the difficulty of persuading popular artists to endorse the tool, given the potential for creators to use their voices in ways they may not approve of.
In fact, UMG recently removed a track titled “Heart On My Sleeve,” which featured AI-generated voices imitating Drake and The Weeknd. The song gained traction on social media but was promptly removed due to copyright violations.
