Last month, the Recording Academy announced a series of changes to the Grammy Awards to better reflect an evolving music industry. Among these changes were protocols involving technological advancements in machine learning, which sparked headlines. The new guidelines stated that “only human creators” could win the music industry’s highest honor, with a decision aimed at the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in popular music. The rules clarified that a work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category.
As the music industry continues to grapple with the integration of AI technology, so too will the Grammys, according to Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason Jr. The Grammy Awards are set to return to Los Angeles on the first Sunday in February, and the Recording Academy has announced several key dates ahead of its 66th annual show honoring the best in music. However, more change is on the horizon for the Grammys.
The Recording Academy revealed on Tuesday that it will be adding three new categories to the awards show: best pop dance recording, best African music performance, and best alternative jazz album. Additionally, the organization clarified its stance on AI-created music, with Harvey Mason Jr. making it clear that music containing AI-created elements is indeed eligible for entry and consideration for Grammy nomination.
Mason emphasized, “What’s not going to happen is we are not going to give a Grammy or Grammy nomination to the AI portion.” He further explained that if an AI or voice modeling program performs the lead vocal on a song, the track would be eligible in a songwriting category but not a performance category. This distinction is made because “what is performing is not human creation.” Conversely, if a song was sung by an actual human in the studio, but AI wrote the lyric or the track, the song would not be eligible in a composition or songwriting category.
Mason clarified, “As long as the human is contributing in a more than de minimis amount, which to us means a meaningful way, they are and will always be considered for a nomination or a win.” The Recording Academy aims to ensure that technology enhances and adds to human creativity rather than replace it. These guidelines have been implemented to strike a balance between the evolving role of AI in music and the recognition of human contributions.
The Recording Academy has been considering establishing rules related to AI for some time, spurred by the popularity of songs created alongside AI technology. They engaged in extensive research and held tech summits to inform their decision-making process. Mason revealed that they have even consulted with the copyright office and discussed the future of AI on a federal and legislative level.
The announcement of the Grammy AI protocols came just three days after Paul McCartney shared that “the last Beatles record” had been composed using artificial intelligence to extract John Lennon’s voice from an old demo. While Mason could not confirm or deny the eligibility of this song for a Grammy nomination, he acknowledged that there could be components of the creation that would be eligible based on early descriptions.
The question remains whether Grammy viewers can expect to see work at least partially created with AI nominated for an award as early as next year. Mason expressed that it is impossible to predict what will be submitted, but he believes that AI will play a significant role in many records and songs this year. He anticipates that some of them will be submitted for Grammy consideration.
The 2024 Grammy Awards are set to return to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena and will be aired live on CBS and livestreamed on Paramount+. As the music industry continues to evolve, the Grammys are adapting to ensure that they remain a platform that recognizes both human creativity and the advancements in AI technology that enhance the music-making process.
