Grimes Shakes Up The Music Industry & Launches User-Driven AI Platform Elf.tech
Grimes, renowned for her avant-garde approach to both music and art, has recently unveiled Elf.tech, a groundbreaking AI project that transforms the landscape of music management, distribution, and marketing. The project allows users to produce songs using the Canadian musician’s voice and offers a 50% share in the master recording royalties as compensation.
The singer-songwriter and record producer collaborated with CreateSafe, a design and development studio based in Los Angeles, to launch her project. Known for its previous work with top-tier artists like Lady Gaga, DJ Snake, and Peter Gabriel, the system has aided in the creation of Elf.tech, a prototype white label for its Triniti platform that uses AI to transform user-generated vocals into Grimes’ unique voiceprint, known as GrimesAI-1.
Creators who possess the legal rights to all components of their distributed recording, excluding the GrimesAI-1 voiceprint, can access the voiceprint. Fans and creators alike can submit pre-recorded acapellas or record their own set of vocals, which will then be converted into a WAV file and can be integrated into new sound recordings. Ownership of these recordings will remain with the creators, as Grimes has no claim to ownership of the sound recording or underlying composition, except in cases where the recording is a cover of one of her songs.
In case the creators opt to distribute their songs utilizing the GrimesAI-1 voiceprint via Grimes’ team, they will be requested to share an equal percentage of the master recording royalties that are distributed on streaming services, on-chain marketplaces, and other DSPs. People who choose to upload their tracks on digital streaming platforms will have royalties collected from all DSPs and paid out by Elf.tech. If creators wish to receive on-chain sales and royalties, they must include GrimesAI.eth wallet in the collection when minting.
Grimes’ AI project is one of the few initiatives in the music industry that demonstrate a bold attitude towards the potential of AI in music creation. Recently, Peter Gabriel, a former Genesis member, collaborated with an open-source AI company, Stability AI, to launch a competition, inviting participants to submit animated AI-generated videos inspired by and set to his music. When responding to criticisms of the competition promoting an unethical business model, the musician stated that it was intended to be a playful, creative activity rather than a money-making endeavor.
Grimes and Gabriel’s AI projects have emerged amidst a collective tech industry demand for a six-month hiatus on “training AI systems that surpass GPT-4 in terms of potency.” The appeal has received support from over 1,000 industry stakeholders, including high-profile figures like Elon Musk, who serves as CEO of SpaceX, Twitter, and Tesla. Other notable supporters include Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Emad Mostaque, CEO of Stability AI; Evan Sharp, co-founder of Pinterest; and Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple.
Grimes’ unique approach to music creation and distribution has the potential to revolutionize the music industry by empowering creators through shared royalties in exchange for using her voiceprint. Her artistic and innovative vision has also been evident in creating WarNymph, a digital avatar she introduced in 2020 to usher in a new era in media evolution.
The use of AI in music has been a controversial topic, with some arguing that it could take away the soul and creativity that comes with traditional music-making. However, Grimes’ approach shows that AI can be used as a tool to enhance and expand the creative process, rather than replace it. By inviting users to create AI songs using her voice, Grimes empowers her fans to explore new possibilities and push the boundaries of music creation.
This collaboration between Grimes and CreateSafe demonstrates the potential for AI technology to foster collaboration, experimentation, and innovation in the music industry, while still preserving the unique human touch that makes music so special. Ultimately, it’s up to artists and creators to determine how they want to use AI in their craft, and Grimes’ project offers a promising glimpse into what’s possible.
Stay informed about the latest music developments by keeping a close eye on MusicPromoToday. For additional information about the trends influencing the music industry, take a look at the MPT Agency Blog.
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