The US-based music streamer Bandcamp has announced that AI-generated music will not be permitted on its platform. In an article posted on Tuesday titled Keeping Bandcamp Human, the streaming platform asserts its mission to create connection between artists and listeners as music is “the result of a human cultural dialog stretching back before the written word”.
Its new guidelines assert there is no place for any type of AI tools on their platform.
“Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp. Any use of AI tools to impersonate other artists or styles is strictly prohibited.”
Bandcamp’s decision comes amid explosive growth in AI-generated music, which is creating concern among artists and listeners alike. In November, Deezer reported that 97 percent of listeners could not differentiate music generated by humans or AI.
An AI-generated image of the AI-generated band The Velvet Sundown
The sector’s biggest player, Spotify, announced stronger protections in September following debate surrounding AI band The Velvet Sundown, which gathered more than one million streams on the platform. The Chief Executive of the UK’s Ivors Academy, Roberto Neri, stated, “AI-generated bands like Velvet Sundown that...
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Bandcamp would save itself headaches, and probably litigation, if it set up a section for AI music on its site, so should others.
I’ve been using AI and automation in my music for 40 years, and so have most other composers. It has always been part of modern music-making.
Name me one DAW or music studio that does not use AI and automation as part of its recording, editing, mixing and mastering process.
What Bandcamp should say is they are banning AI slop music. Anyway, how are they deciding what music is AI? Let me guess, they are using AI programs to figure that out.