The rise of artificial intelligence in music has been a hot debate for a while now, but many examples this year have taken the controversy to its most heated point so far. Amid all this, though, it seems like even companies like Suno, who promote and sell AI-generated music to consumers, won't double down on their advocacy if they misunderstood the intentions of an actual artist. This is what just happened with Mary J. Blige, as reported by Variety.
For those unaware, the singer was part of an advertisement campaign for the AI music platform. In a video, she seems to praise the platform and speak on interest in learning more. But it turns out this was all a misunderstanding. Blige did not approve of the ad, and Suno told Variety that they made the deal with someone who falsely claimed to be her representative.
"Ms. Blige is an icon who we all deeply admire," a company representative reportedly stated. "Ever since she broke onto the scene with ‘What’s the 411,’ ‘No More Drama,’ ‘The Breakthrough,’ ‘Growing Pains,’ etc., she hasn’t stopped innovating. That’s why we wanted to work with her. We entered into a business deal with someone who presented themselves as Ms. Blige’s official representative. As soon as we learned this was not the case, and that Ms. Blige was uncomfortable, we terminated the advertising campaign."
A (real) representative for the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul reportedly had no further comment when contacted by Variety. We will see if Mary J. Blige issues a more direct statement or clarification about all of this.
Mary J. Blige's Suno Ad
Elsewhere, Suno has caught flack from other artists, including a scathing condemnation from SZA. "lonno who needs to hear this but diplo has equity in suno and is actively attempting to train it on the best and brightest black minds of writers and producers," she wrote on social media. "We make up 13% of the American population yet influence the world w our sound and perspective. I AINT HEARD A WHITE AI SONG YET…We have no protection in legislature medical or creative. The easiest to steal from."
The major labels are also catching flack for their investments in AI. UMG, Warner, and Sony put millions upon millions into Stability AI, seeking to build reproductive models around these labels' catalogs.
