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

The song, titled 'I Run' by British dance act Haven, achieved massive traction on TikTok last October, in part due to its polished R&B vocals by an uncredited female vocalist.

Although its momentum and impending chart position in the UK and US, the song was later banned by leading music services after music organizations issued takedown notices, stating it breached intellectual property law by imitating another artist.

Even though 'I Run' has now been reissued with different vocals, Smith's label, FAMM, maintains it is convinced the original version was made with AI programmed on her extensive work and is now seeking financial redress.

A Larger Issue at Stake

"The situation isn't just about one artist. This is larger than one artist or one song," the label wrote in a public announcement.

FAMM also stated its belief that "each versions of the track violate Jorja's rights and unfairly benefit from the creative output of all the writers with whom she collaborates."

Known for songs like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was crowned Best British Female at the prestigious Brit Awards in 2019.

Implying that her fans were potentially deceived by Haven's first release, the label concluded: "We cannot permit this to be the new normal."

Creators Admit Using AI Technology

The team responsible for the track have publicly confirmed utilizing AI during its production process.

Producer Harrison Walker clarified that the original vocals were actually his own but were heavily manipulated using AI music software Suno, often called the "advanced tool for music".

In addition, the second producer, Waypoint, identified as Jacob Donaghue, stated on his accounts that AI was used to "apply our original vocal a feminine tone".

Donaghue and Walker assert that they wrote and produced the music themselves and have even provided files of their original production sessions.

"This shouldn't be mystery that I used AI-assisted vocal editing to convert exclusively my voice for 'I Run'," Walker said.

"Being a songwriter and producer, I like using new tools, techniques and remaining on the cutting edge of industry trends," he added.

"To set the record straight, the people behind HAVEN are actual and human, and all we aim to do is make enjoyable music for other humans."

Regulatory Uncertainty and Broader Implications

Although their original version of 'I Run' was suspended from major rankings, the replacement recording managed to enter the UK Top 40 recently.

FAMM has positioned the entire episode as a significant precedent for the music industry's changing interaction with artificial intelligence.

The label argued it had "a duty to voice concerns" and "stimulate wider discussion", because AI is proliferating at an "rapid rate and significantly outpacing legal oversight".

"Computer-created material should be clearly identified as such so that the public may decide whether they consume it or not," the message continued.

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 competition by governments and tech firms towards AI dominance".

It also noted that the label would share any potential songwriting credits with the writers behind Smith's catalogue.

"If we are able in establishing that AI helped to write the lyrics and tune in 'I Run' and are awarded a portion of the song, we would seek to assign every one of Jorja's co-writers with a corresponding share," it explained.

The Continuing Growth of Computer-Generated Music

The emergence of AI-generated music has been a topic of both interest and consternation for the entertainment world.

• In June, the group Velvet Sundown accumulated millions of plays before revealing they used AI to aid craft their musical style.
• Recently, an AI-generated "artist" called Breaking Rust led a US genre digital song sales chart, demonstrating that audiences are not always opposed to hearing AI-made music.
• Suno was previously sued for alleged violations by the industry's major biggest record labels, though those legal actions have now been settled.

Subsequently, Warner Music entered into a partnership with the company, which will enable users to create songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner acts who agree to the service.

However, it is uncertain how many established artists will consent to such uses of their work.

Just last week, a collective of prominent artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush released a vinyl album featuring tracks of silence or audio of quiet studios in opposition to potential revisions to intellectual property regulations.

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