Songs that use artificial intelligence to be included in Grammy nominations, Recording Academy announces

However, before you start thinking the machines are going to take over music, there are some restrictions in place by the Grammy organisers
Benjamin Jackson
By Benjamin Jackson
5th Jul 2023, 3:53pm

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Artificial intelligence and music has become a thorny issue since the advent of ChatGPT and a variety of musical services that espouse the use of AI for things such as mastering, beat-juggling and even vocals. For every Sir Paul McCartney and Grimes celebrating the use of AI, there is a Drake AI track that isn’t really AI…

This is why there is some disbelief with a change to Grammy Award rules, made by the Recording Academy, that will allow songs that have an element of artificial intelligence to be eligible for the swarth of awards that the ceremony, to be held at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on February 4, 2024.

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However, Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr has been quick to point out that the guidelines do state that works must have a human element involved, such as David Guetta’s "Emin-AI-em" or the aforementioned Grimes and her voice modelling AI software. Those AI elements will not be eligible for an award - so any production or mastering work undertaken solely by artificial intelligence will not be eligible for that award.

Understandable, that also means that songs that have been created solely by AI will also not be eligible for nominations among the numerous awards categories; so bad news for those musicians who think entering in prompts equals them becoming award-winning musicians.

The example given by the Recording Academy is that a song that comprises human composition but uses artificial intelligence for the vocal portion of the track can be eligible for a songwriting category but not in a performance category.

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy speaks during Grammys On The Hill: Advocacy Day on April 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy speaks during Grammys On The Hill: Advocacy Day on April 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy speaks during Grammys On The Hill: Advocacy Day on April 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

It is an assurance that means the Grammys will ensure that technology only “enhances, embellishes, or adds to human creativity rather than replacing it,” according to Billboard.

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The announcement of the new AI protocols came shortly after Paul McCartney revealed that an old Beatles demo had been used with AI to extract John Lennon's voice, while the Recording Academy looks to future-proof themselves during the advent of more AI-driven entertainment.

Related topics:Paul McCartneyGrimesArtificial Intelligence

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