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The record label representing award-winning singer Jorja Smith has declared its desire to claim a portion of royalties from a song it asserts was created using an AI "clone" of the singer's unique vocal style.

The song, titled 'I Run' by British electronic duo Haven, achieved widespread traction on TikTok last October, in part due to its polished R&B singing by an unnamed woman singer.

Although its success and impending top 40 entry in the UK and US, the track was subsequently removed by leading music services after music bodies issued takedown requests, stating it breached copyright by imitating another artist.

Although 'I Run' has since been re-released with completely new singing, Smith's label, FAMM, insists it is convinced the initial version was made with AI trained on her body of work and is now seeking appropriate compensation.

A Broader Principle at Stake

"The situation is not only about one artist. This is larger than one artist or one song," the label stated in a public statement.

FAMM also expressed its view that "each versions of the track violate Jorja's rights and unfairly take advantage of the creative output of all the writers with whom she collaborates."

Famous for hits like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was named British Female Solo Artist at the annual Brit Awards in 2019.

Suggesting that her fans were potentially deceived by Haven's original track, the label added: "Our industry cannot permit this to be the standard practice."

Creators Admit Using AI Technology

The duo responsible for the song have publicly admitted using AI in its creation.

Producer Harrison Walker explained that the initial voice were in fact his own but were extensively manipulated using music-generation platform Suno, often called the "ChatGPT for music".

In addition, the other member, Waypoint, identified as Jacob Donaghue, stated on social media that AI was used to "give our original vocal a female tone".

Donaghue and Walker maintain that they composed and produced the music themselves and have even provided files of their original computer files.

"It is no secret that I used AI-powered vocal editing to convert exclusively my voice for 'I Run'," Walker said.

"As a songwriter and maker, I enjoy experimenting with new tools, techniques and staying on the forefront of what's happening," he added.

"To set the facts straight, the artists behind HAVEN are actual and people, and all we aim to do is make great music for fellow humans."

Legal Gray Areas and Broader Implications

While their first release of 'I Run' was blocked from official rankings, the replacement recording managed to break into the UK Top 40 last week.

FAMM has framed the entire episode as a critical test case for the entertainment sector's evolving relationship with AI.

The label argued it had "a duty to voice concerns" and "stimulate public discourse", because AI is advancing at an "rapid rate and significantly exceeding regulation".

"Computer-created content should be transparently identified as such so that the audience may decide whether they consume it or not," the statement added.

Creators Become 'Collateral Victims'

Smith shared her label's position on her own social media page.

The text warned that artists and songwriters were turning into "unintended casualties in the race by policymakers and tech firms towards AI supremacy".

It also noted that the label would share any awarded songwriting credits with the collaborators behind Smith's music.

"If we are able in proving that AI helped to compose the lyrics and melody in 'I Run' and are awarded a portion of the song, we would seek to assign each of Jorja's collaborators with a corresponding share," it detailed.

The Continuing Rise of Computer-Generated Music

The emergence of algorithmically created music has been a source of both fascination and anxiety for the music industry.

• In June, the group Velvet Sundown accumulated millions of streams before disclosing they used AI to help craft their musical style.
• Last month, an AI-generated "performer" known as Breaking Rust topped a US country digital song sales chart, demonstrating that listeners are not always averse to consuming computer-generated music.
• Suno was previously sued for copyright infringement by the world's major largest record labels, though those cases have since been resolved.

Subsequently, Warner Music established a collaboration with the company, which will allow users to generate songs using the vocal likenesses, names, and likenesses of Warner artists who opt in to the service.

However, it is unclear how a large number of established artists will consent to such applications of their identity.

Just last week, a collective of prominent artists including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush released a vinyl album containing silent songs or recordings of empty studios in opposition to potential changes to copyright law.

They argue these amendments would make it simpler for AI companies to train models using protected work without securing a license.