A new song created using AI software to imitate Canadian singers Drake and The Weeknd has been removed from streaming services after quickly racking up millions of listens and sparking debate over the new technology.
Released last Friday, "Heart On My Sleeve" was briefly available on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music before Universal Music Group (UMG) which publishes both artists through its Republic Records subsidiary said it violates copyrights and asked for its removal.
The song features artificial intelligence (AI) simulating the voices of the two artists trading verses about actor and pop star Selena Gomez, who once dated The Weeknd.
Its creator, known only as @ghostwriter, claims to have used software that was trained on their voices to make the track, posting: "I used AI to make a Drake song feat. The Weeknd."
"This is just the beginning," he added on TikTok.
Universal Music Group, which controls about one third of the global music industry, is increasingly concerned about AIs using its songs to produce music similar to that of popular artists.
Training AI software without artists' permission "begs the question as to which side of history all stakeholders in the music ecosystem want to be on: the side of artists, fans and human creative expression, or on the side of deep fakes, fraud and denying artists their due compensation," the company said in an email to AFP.
In March, UMG wrote to streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple, asking them to block AI services from extracting melodies and lyrics from their copyrighted songs, according to emails viewed by the Financial Times.
With streaming services moving quickly to take down the most recent viral song, UMG told AFP on Tuesday it was "encouraged by the engagement of our platform partners on these issues as they recognize they need to be part of the solution."
"These instances demonstrate why platforms have a fundamental legal and ethical responsibility to prevent the use of their services in ways that harm artists," the statement added.
The use of AI in music is the subject of debate in the industry, with some denouncing copyright abuses and others praising its prowess.
David Guetta recently used AI to add a vocal in the style of rapper Eminem to a song for a live show. But the French producer said he won't release it commercially.
In an interview with the BBC, Guetta compared AI to instruments such as the electric guitar, bass synthesizer, drum machine and sampler that led to musical revolutions including rock 'n' roll and hip hop.
ETX Studio
Wed Apr 19 2023
![AI-generated song imitating Drake yanked from streaming services AI-generated song imitating Drake yanked from streaming services](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2017-04/81492508472_Drake.jpg)
A new song created using AI software to imitate Drake and The Weeknd has been removed from streaming services. - REUTERS/Filepic
![Malaysia raih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit dengan China Malaysia raih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit dengan China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/81680602791_TBsawit.jpg)
Malaysia raih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit dengan China
Malaysia berjaya meraih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit semasa lawatan kerja Timbalan Menteri Perladangan dan Komoditi Datuk Chan Foong Hin ke China baru-baru ini.
![Lesen cetak al-Quran batal jika langgar APTQ Lesen cetak al-Quran batal jika langgar APTQ](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721037284_WargaEmas.jpg)
Lesen cetak al-Quran batal jika langgar APTQ
LPPPQ memutuskan pemegang Lesen Mesin Cetak al-Quran (LMCQ) akan dikenakan tindakan pembatalan lesen mesin cetak al-Quran sekiranya melanggar mana-mana syarat lesen.
![Angkatan Tentera Indonesia, Malaysia lakukan rondaan sempadan bersama Angkatan Tentera Indonesia, Malaysia lakukan rondaan sempadan bersama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721048079_tbTenteraMalaysia.jpg)
Angkatan Tentera Indonesia, Malaysia lakukan rondaan sempadan bersama
TNI dan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) sedang menjalankan rondaan bersama yang diselaraskan untuk memeriksa penanda sempadan di sepanjang sempadan Kalimantan Barat-Sarawak.
![Malaysia dalam kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS - MIDF Amanah Malaysia dalam kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS - MIDF Amanah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/81658464666_MIDF.jpg)
Malaysia dalam kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS - MIDF Amanah
Malaysia berada pada kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS, menyumbang kepada amalan mampan dalam sektor minyak dan gas seperti yang ditekankan dalam NETR.
![Mahkamah AS tolak pertuduhan tambahan dalam kes dokumen sulit Trump Mahkamah AS tolak pertuduhan tambahan dalam kes dokumen sulit Trump](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080824_chargingdocument.jpg)
Mahkamah AS tolak pertuduhan tambahan dalam kes dokumen sulit Trump
Permohonan Trump untuk menolak pertuduhan berdasarkan pelantikan dan pembiayaan tidak sah 'Special Counsel' Jack Smith diluluskan.
![Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan mulai sambutan ulang tahun keputeraan Sultan Brunei Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan mulai sambutan ulang tahun keputeraan Sultan Brunei](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721079540_KEBAWAHDYMM.jpg)
Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan mulai sambutan ulang tahun keputeraan Sultan Brunei
Istiadat berlangsung di Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien, sebuah taman terkenal di Bandar Seri Begawan.
![Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080146_VolodymyrZelenskiy.jpg)
Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya
Zelensky berkata beliau telah menugaskan Kerajaan Ukraine untuk menganjurkan acara itu menjelang November tahun ini.
![Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080159_ImranKhan.jpg)
Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara
Menteri Penerangan Attaullah Tarar berkata kerajaan akan memfailkan permohonan di Mahkamah Agung selepas mendapat kelulusan Kabinet.
![Tawaran pengambilalihan MAHB dijangka muktamad suku ketiga tahun ini - Kementerian Kewangan Tawaran pengambilalihan MAHB dijangka muktamad suku ketiga tahun ini - Kementerian Kewangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721077402_Perbendaharaan.jpg)
Tawaran pengambilalihan MAHB dijangka muktamad suku ketiga tahun ini - Kementerian Kewangan
Memandangkan tawaran itu merupakan satu urusan transaksi komersial, maka ia tidak mendatangkan sebarang implikasi kewangan kepada kerajaan.
![PREPMA jelas tiga kriteria utama pemilihan perenang ke Paralimpik Paris PREPMA jelas tiga kriteria utama pemilihan perenang ke Paralimpik Paris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721077062_MegatD.jpg)
PREPMA jelas tiga kriteria utama pemilihan perenang ke Paralimpik Paris
Megat Shahriman berkata, walaupun tiga atlet berjaya melepasi masa kelayakan minimum, Malaysia hanya memperoleh dua slot automatik.