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The music company representing award-winning artist Jorja Smith has declared its desire to receive a share of earnings from a track it asserts was produced using an artificial intelligence "replica" of the performer's unique vocal style.

The song, titled 'I Run' by British electronic duo Haven, gained massive traction on TikTok last October, in part due to its polished R&B vocals by an uncredited woman vocalist.

Despite its success and potential top 40 position in the UK and US, the song was subsequently removed by leading streaming platforms after industry organizations issued copyright requests, stating it violated copyright by imitating another artist.

Although 'I Run' has since been reissued with completely new vocals, Smith's label, FAMM, maintains it is convinced the initial recording was made with AI programmed on her body of recordings and is now pursuing financial compensation.

A Broader Principle in Play

"The situation is not only about Jorja. It's bigger than a single performer or one song," the label stated in a public announcement.

FAMM further stated its view that "both versions of the song infringe on Jorja's rights and unfairly take advantage of the work of all the songwriters with whom she works."

Famous for songs like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was crowned British Female Solo Artist at the annual Brit Awards in 2019.

Implying that her supporters were potentially deceived by Haven's first track, the label concluded: "Our industry cannot allow this to be the new normal."

Creators Acknowledge Using AI Tools

The duo behind the song have publicly admitted utilizing AI in its production process.

Producer Harrison Walker clarified that the initial vocals were actually his own but were extensively manipulated using music-generation platform Suno, sometimes referred to as the "advanced tool for music".

Meanwhile, the second member, Waypoint, whose real name is 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 created the music themselves and have even shared files of their original production sessions.

"This is no secret that I used AI-assisted vocal processing to convert exclusively my voice for 'I Run'," Walker elaborated.

"As a songwriter and maker, I like experimenting with new tools, techniques and staying on the forefront of industry trends," he continued.

"In order to set the record clear, the people behind HAVEN are actual and people, and all we aim to do is make great music for fellow humans."

Legal Gray Areas and Broader Impact

While their first release of 'I Run' was suspended from official rankings, the new version managed to break into the UK Top 40 recently.

FAMM has positioned the entire episode as a significant test case for the music industry's evolving relationship with artificial intelligence.

The label stated it had "an obligation to voice concerns" and "encourage wider discussion", because AI is advancing at an "rapid rate and significantly exceeding legal oversight".

"Computer-created material should be clearly labelled as such so that the public may decide whether they listen to it or not," the statement added.

Artists as 'Collateral Damage'

Smith shared her label's position on her personal social media profile.

The text cautioned that artists and creators were turning into "collateral damage in the race by policymakers and tech firms towards AI dominance".

It also noted that the label would distribute any potential songwriting credits with the collaborators behind Smith's music.

"If we are successful in proving that AI helped to write the words and tune in 'I Run' and are granted a portion of the song, we would aim to allocate every one of Jorja's collaborators with a corresponding share," it detailed.

The Ongoing Rise of AI Music

The proliferation of AI-generated music has been a topic of both fascination and anxiety for the entertainment world.

• In the summer, the group Velvet Sundown accumulated millions of streams before revealing they used AI to help develop their sound.
• Last month, an AI-generated "performer" known as Breaking Rust topped a US country digital song sales chart, showing that audiences are not necessarily averse to consuming AI-made music.
• Suno was previously sued for copyright infringement by the industry's three biggest record labels, but those cases have now been settled.

Following this, Warner Music established a partnership with the firm, which will enable users to create songs using the vocal likenesses, names, and likenesses of Warner artists who opt in to the service.

Yet, it is unclear how many well-known artists will agree to such applications of their work.

Just last week, a collective of renowned musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush released a vinyl album featuring silent songs or audio of quiet studios in opposition to potential changes to intellectual property regulations.

They contend these changes would make it simpler for AI companies to train models using copyrighted work without obtaining a license.