YouTube have announced the launch of the YouTube Music AI Incubator, a new programme that has been developed alongside Universal Music Group to help to inform the platform’s approach to generative AI use in music. The company have also published the first set of ‘AI music principles’, which they say will define how they collaborate with the music industry, helping to ensure that they support creative expression whilst protecting artists’ rights.
The YouTube Music AI Incubator programme aims to bring together some of the world’s most innovative artists, songwriters and producers. It is currently made up of a wide selection of Universal Music Group’s artists, including Anitta, Björn Ulvaeus, d4vd, Don Was, Juanes, Louis Bell, Max Richter, Rodney Jerkins, Rosanne Cash, Ryan Tedder, Yo Gotti, the Estate of Frank Sinatra and more.
“While some may find my decision controversial, I've joined this group with an open mind and purely out of curiosity about how an AI model works and what it could be capable of in a creative process. I believe that the more I understand, the better equipped I'll be to advocate for and to help protect the rights of my fellow human creators." - Björn Ulvaeus
“Like every new technology, AI brings with it opportunities, but it also raises profound challenges for the creative community. The tech world and the music distribution ecosystem are quickly evolving to embrace this transformative technology and, unless artists are part of this process, there is no way to ensure that our interests will be taken into account. We have to be in this conversation, or our voices won’t be heard. Therefore, I’m very happy to be part of the ‘artist incubator’ which will allow me to advocate for the interests of the creative community in the applications of AI to music and music distribution.” - Max Richter
YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, has outlined the new principles in a recent blog post, where he also shared his vision for how the platform will adapt to incorporate generative AI technology. The blog can be found via the following link:
https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/partnering-with-the-music-industry-on-ai/
YouTube have also published a guest blog, which sees the Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, Sir Lucian Grainge, share his vision for an artist-centric approach to generative AI and explains how he believes partnering with the streaming platform would best position the music industry for success as AI technology continues to move forward. You can check out his post here:
https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/an-artist-centric-approach-to-ai-innovation/
