Music generated by artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent thanks to tools like Meta’s MusicGen that make it possible to create songs without having to learn instruments or music software. However, the new technology has created controversy as the tools require vast databases of existing songs to learn how to create new ones. This raises questions over the music industry’s copyright status quo, with some musicians such as Grimes allowing AI to use their voice without penalty, while Universal Music Group has labelled all AI-generated music using existing artists’ voices as fraud. As lawsuits make their way through the courts, some start-ups are proposing their own standards for generative music intellectual property, including blockchain firm Itoka.
Recently accepted into the Allen Institute for AI’s start-up incubation programme, Itoka plans to use blockchain technology to tokenise AI-generated music content so that creators can independently license it and receive compensation whenever it is used. Itoka aims to establish a new paradigm for copyright protection by temporarily holding ownership of songs and giving creators full commercial licenses while preventing plagiarism and unlawful monetisation on its platform. Its music creation tools, which are powered by music-generating AI models, are easy to use, but the emphasis has been on simplicity over customisability. With a partnership with Canva and multiple game studios for content licensing, Itoka is targeting game developers as one of its top customer segments.
Yang and Chen, the co-founders of Itoka, said, As music production becomes democratized, the establishment of the current music industry and its monopoly will be significantly undermined. This will urge people to rethink creativity and artistry in content creation.
