Recording Academy says AI is now common in music making

In short: The CEO of the Recording Academy says AI is showing up in many music recording sessions, and the Grammys are still trying to draw a clear line for awards.

What's going on

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said AI is now “omnipresent” in parts of music production, especially in pop and R&B. The Recording Academy is the group behind the Grammy Awards. Mason said he has recently seen some form of AI in nearly every studio session he is part of.

He described common uses that can sound simple but change the workflow. Artists use AI to suggest chord progressions, build drum loops, and draft lyrics that match a rhyme pattern. Some also use it to create background vocals or demo vocals, which are rough “test recordings” used to pitch a song.

This is happening while the amount of AI-made music keeps rising. The Verge cited a report from streaming service Deezer that says more than 50,000 AI-generated songs are uploaded every day. Mason said the quality has improved enough that he can be surprised by what AI creates.

What to watch

The Grammys currently allow some AI use, but only if there is more than a “de minimis” amount of human creativity, meaning a meaningful human contribution, not just a tiny tweak. Mason said the Academy mainly relies on what people disclose, with screening committees asking for proof when needed. Over time, the key question is whether the Grammys tighten the rules, keep the current approach, or create clearer categories, like separating “human-made” music from AI-heavy music (like labeling food ingredients).

Source: The Verge AI