AI-restored Beatles song in Grammy race, sparks row
What's the story
Despite disbanding more than half a century ago, The Beatles have been nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
The legendary band's nomination comes for their song Now and Then, which was released with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Recording Academy's decision has ignited debates about the role of AI in music.
Technical details
AI technology and human creativity combined in 'Now and Then'
The song Now and Then was produced using "stem separation," an AI technology that aided in cleaning up a decades-old demo of the song.
This tech was used to separate John Lennon's vocals from unwanted noise in the recording.
The final version of the song featured electric and acoustic guitar recorded by George Harrison in 1995, drums from Ringo Starr, bass, piano, slide guitar from Paul McCartney, and more backing vocals.
Academy rules
Grammy allows AI-powered music, only in this case
The Recording Academy has deemed Now and Then eligible for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance.
However, the Academy's rules state that "only human creators are eligible" for Grammys and a work with "no human authorship" is ineligible.
The rules clarify that a work featuring "elements of AI material" is eligible in applicable categories, implying that songs completely made by AI are a no-go, but those only enhanced by AI tools can be considered.
Expert opinions
Industry experts weighed in on AI's role in music
Nashville singer-songwriter Mary Bragg told AFP that the tech behind Now and Then was actually pretty common in music industry, so its use in the legendary band's song and the subsequent media highlight was a bit overdone.
But, "if the integrity of the art is not preserved, that's when it's of major concern."
Linda Bloss-Baum, a lecturer at American University, further, saw this as an example of how AI can help artists if used with proper permissions.
Industry reaction
'Now and Then' nomination raised eyebrows of industry insiders too
The Beatles's nomination for a top Grammy led to conversations among industry watchers and social media users.
Some even questioned the inclusion of a legacy act alongside contemporary artists.
However, Bragg pointed out that the prize for Record of the Year also honors song engineers and producers, implying that including The Beatles is "a nod to what is likely to be the case in the future in the world of recording."
The 67th Grammys are set for Sunday, February 2.