UMG’s Michael Nash on Ethical AI in the Modern Music Industry

At the recent UN summit on artificial intelligence, AI For Good, Universal Music Group’s (UMG) Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash delivered a keynote address on the role of AI in the modern music industry.

Key takeaways:

• As per Music Week, Nash said UMG’s approach to AI is to keep the artists at the center of the conversation.

• He stated: “We believe that AI can be instrumental to the future of music. However, it’s critical to emphasize that AI will realize its potential to transform the future of music through the voice and visions of artists.”

• He stressed that copyright frameworks need to be protected.

• He said that the best approach to AI is not to “regurgitate” carbon copies of what’s come before, but to put tools in the hands of artists to grow their reach.

• In that regard, UMG backs the licensed voice clone technology that enables artists to sing in other languages.

• UMG’s Sound Therapy partnership with Apple also uses UMG’s patented generative AI system.

• Nash pointed to the successful use of AI in The Beatles’ Grammy-winning “Now And Then,” which used stem-separation technology to allow the surviving Beatles to complete a John Lennon demo.

• The exec also played Keith Urban’s new video, “Straight Lines,” which uses ethical AI generated by video tech firm Moonvalley.

• These are examples, declared Nash, of how “AI innovation can drive music culture and, in so doing, drive even greater benefits to the quality of life on this planet.”

The Velvet Sundown:

• In a Q&A session Nash was asked about the success of AI-created band The Velvet Sundown.

• As per Music Week he commented: “Because of all the publicity, they have one million listeners on Spotify but that would not break them into the top 10,000 acts on the platform.”