ABSTRACT
This paper examines the double role of artificial intelligence in the music industry, probing on the impact it has made on artistic creativity while probing the challenges surrounding copyright law. The paper argues that despite the fact that AI is gradually enhancing the music industry, nevertheless, it has raised concerns about copyright infringement because a lot of AI tools do not seek permission to replicate other artists’ voices and likeness in their tracks. The paper is divided into 5 sections. The first part examines the background of AI in the music industry, tracing its origins to the late 1950s. It also highlights the purpose of the study and the thesis statement. The second part deals with the definition of AI by different scholars and the types of AI. The third part discusses the various AI tools used in composition and production of music, some musicians that have embraced AI and used it, and the benefits of AI in the music industry. The fourth part deals with copyright law, examining the basics of copyright law in the US, the concept of ‘fair use’ as a restriction to the right to reproduce and examples of AI- Generated works and copyright. The last part deals with the broader implications of AI in the music industry. It also highlights some guidelines on regulating AI that have been provided by some agencies that aim to protect artists and composers. This paper concludes by asserting the need to update copyright law to cover AI and also the importance of protecting the rights of artists in the wake of the AI wave.
Mwaya, Teddy, Harmonizing Innovation: The Dual Role of Artificial Intelligence in Music Copyright and Creativity in the United States (January 25, 2025).
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