ChatGPT and the music industry
ChatGPT, a language generation model developed by OpenAI, has the potential to disrupt the music industry, particularly for songwriters. The model, which uses machine learning algorithms to generate human-like text, has the ability to write lyrics and even entire songs. However, this has raised concerns for songwriters and the music industry as a whole, as the use of ChatGPT could potentially lead to a decrease in the need for human songwriters.
One example of how ChatGPT is being used in the music industry is through the creation of AI-generated songs. In 2019, a group of researchers used the model to generate a pop song called “Daddy’s Car” in the style of The Beatles. The song, which was generated entirely by the model, features lyrics and a melody that were created by A.I. This example demonstrates the potential for the model to be used in the creation of entire songs, but it could pose many risks for the music industry.
Potential legal implications
If ChatGPT is readily adopted in the music industry, it could potentially be used to generate songs that are similar to existing songs, which would no doubt lead to legal issues. Plagiarism, whether it is regarding the lyrics or melody, is already a risk within the music industry, and one that could be exacerbated by the use of AI models like ChatGPT.
It’s important to note that ChatGPT is a tool, and it’s up to the creators to use it responsibly. Not only can it be used to generate new ideas and help songwriters overcome writer’s block, but it can also be used to plagiarise or replace human creativity. Therefore, it’s not inherently the technology that is the problem, but the ethics of its use.
Lack of emotional depth
Another concern is that the use of ChatGPT could result in the creation of songs that lack the emotional depth and personal touch that is often found in songs written by human songwriters. Human songwriters have their own style and individual tone of voice; since Chat GPT is trained based on someone else’s writing or web scraping it raises the issue of whether it is ethical to generate content with someone else’s style.
As the model is not able to draw from personal experiences, the music generated by it may not have the same level of emotional resonance as music written by human songwriters. Recently, a Nick Cave fan shared lyrics written “in the style of Nick Cave” by ChatGPT. In his response, Cave raised numerous issues, for example that the model could never write a genuine song but only “a replication of a kind of burlesque” as real music can only arise from the writers’ “complex, internal human struggle of creation.”
Best practice for ChatGPT in songwriting
The best way for ChatGPT to be utilised in the music industry is through a combination of human creativity and technology. Manchester art rock band Everything Everything released their fifth studio album, Raw Data Feel in 2022. Frontman Jonathan Higgs created an A.I bot and fed it the entire terms of conditions from LinkedIn; Beowulf, the ancient poem; the sayings of Confucius, the philosopher; lastly, four hundred thousand comments from 4chan. These lyrics combined with their musicianship landed them a top 4 album.
There’s no doubt ChatGPT has the potential to disrupt the music industry, particularly for songwriters. The model has already been used to generate lyrics and entire songs and we’ve even seen it used for music videos. While the use of ChatGPT could lead to new and innovative forms of music, it raises concerns for songwriters and the music industry as a whole. With the risk of stifling the market, and opportunities for human songwriters, it’s important that creators use it responsibly and consider the legal and ethical implications of its use.
