"Despite lack of perfect pitch, musicians embrace imperfection; Human artists struggle with AI-generated tracks"

In the realm of music, a new form of deception has emerged, as AI-generated albums have started to impersonate living artists for financial gain. This has recently affected Sheffield-based folk singer Emily Portman and New York-based singer-songwriter Josh Kaufman, among others.

Emily Portman, who is currently recording her first album in ten years, found herself with an unexpected release. An AI-generated album, titled Orca, appeared under her name, featuring tracks with names similar to her existing ones. The music, described as "vacuous and pristine," was far from her authentic sound. A fan alerted Emily to the issue, messaging her about her new music.

Meanwhile, Josh Kaufman, known for his unique style, also encountered a similar issue. He received messages about new music released under his name that was stylistically different. His fans and friends quickly realised that the music was not his.

Streaming platforms have been quick to remove some of these AI-generated albums, but it took Spotify three weeks to rectify Emily Portman's artist page. The company stated that the AI-generated albums were incorrectly added to the wrong profile of a different artist by the same name, and were removed once flagged.

However, the masterminds behind these AI-driven identity changes remain unidentified. There are no verifiable or credible sources identifying specific individuals or groups responsible for this fraud.

The fraudsters seem to believe that smaller artists may not notice or may be grateful for the exposure. But both Emily Portman and Josh Kaufman are clear about their stance. Emily doesn't want to sing as perfectly as the AI-generated music, and Josh's impersonator did not do a good job of imitating his music.

For Emily, the new album will not be perfect, but it will be real and human. It will take time, money, and personal creativity to complete. For Josh, the new album will mark a return to his unique sound, a sound that cannot be replicated by AI.

This incident serves as a reminder for artists and fans alike about the potential dangers of AI in the music industry. As AI continues to evolve, it's crucial to maintain the integrity of original music and ensure that artists are not unfairly exploited.

"Despite lack of perfect pitch, musicians embrace imperfection; Human artists struggle with AI-generated tracks"