AI Band Velvet Sundown Fuels Music Industry Debate

Velvet Sundown, a viral band with over a million monthly Spotify listeners and 1960s-inspired folk rock hits, has revealed that all its music, lyrics, and images are generated by AI under human creative direction. The project positions itself as an 'artistic provocation' to challenge ideas of authorship, identity, and creativity in the AI era. The revelation has sparked industry debate, with Universal Music Group seeking licensing solutions with AI companies and platforms like ROKK banning fully AI-generated music to protect human artists. Critics highlight the blurring of lines between authentic and synthetic art, as well as ethical and copyright issues. Broader discussions continue on how streaming services should handle AI content and ensure fair compensation. The controversy spotlights both the creative promise and disruptive threat of AI in the music industry.