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The record label representing Brit Award-winning artist Jorja Smith has stated its desire to claim a share of earnings from a song it claims was created using an AI "replica" of the performer's unique voice.

The song, titled 'I Run' by UK electronic duo Haven, achieved widespread popularity on TikTok in October, in part due to its polished soul singing by an unnamed female singer.

Although its success and potential top 40 entry in the UK and US, the song was later banned by major streaming platforms after industry bodies issued takedown notices, stating it violated copyright by imitating another musician.

Even though 'I Run' has since been reissued with completely new vocals, Smith's label, FAMM, maintains it is convinced the initial version was generated with AI programmed on her body of recordings and is now seeking appropriate compensation.

A Larger Principle at Stake

"The situation isn't just about Jorja. It's larger than one artist or a single track," the label stated in a recent announcement.

FAMM also stated its belief that "both iterations of the song infringe on the artist's rights and unfairly benefit from the creative output of all the songwriters with whom she collaborates."

Known for hits like 'Be Honest' and 'Little Things', Smith was crowned British Female Solo Artist at the prestigious Brit Awards in 2019.

Implying that her supporters were potentially misled by Haven's original track, the label added: "We cannot permit this to become the standard practice."

Creators Admit Using AI Technology

The team responsible for the song have publicly confirmed utilizing AI during its production process.

Producer Harrison Walker clarified that the initial voice were in fact his own but were extensively manipulated using AI music platform Suno, often called the "advanced tool for music".

Meanwhile, the second producer, Waypoint, identified as Jacob Donaghue, stated on his accounts that AI was used to "apply our starting vocal a feminine quality".

Donaghue and Walker assert that they wrote and created the music themselves and have even provided evidence of their original production sessions.

"It is no secret that I used AI-powered vocal processing to convert solely my voice for 'I Run'," Walker elaborated.

"Being a creator and producer, I like experimenting with new tools, techniques and staying on the forefront of industry trends," he continued.

"To set the facts clear, the people behind HAVEN are actual and human, and all we aim to do is make enjoyable music for other humans."

Regulatory Uncertainty and Broader Impact

Although their original release of 'I Run' was suspended from major rankings, the new version managed to enter the UK Top 40 recently.

FAMM has framed the incident as a significant test case for the entertainment sector's evolving interaction with AI.

The label argued it had "an obligation to speak up" and "stimulate public discourse", because AI is advancing at an "alarming rate and substantially exceeding legal oversight".

"Computer-created content should be transparently identified as such so that the public may choose whether they consume it or not," the statement continued.

Artists as 'Unintended Damage'

Smith endorsed her label's position on her own social media page.

The text warned that musicians and creators were becoming "unintended casualties in the race by governments and tech firms towards AI supremacy".

It further stated that the label would share any potential songwriting credits with the writers behind Smith's music.

"If we are able in proving that AI helped to write the lyrics and tune in 'I Run' and are awarded a portion of the song, we would aim to allocate each of Jorja's co-writers with a pro-rata share," it explained.

The Ongoing Rise of Computer-Generated Music

The proliferation of algorithmically created music has been a topic of both interest and consternation for the music industry.

• In the summer, the group Velvet Sundown gathered millions of streams before disclosing they used AI to help craft their sound.
• Last month, an AI-generated "performer" known as Breaking Rust led a US country sales chart, demonstrating that audiences are not necessarily averse to consuming computer-generated music.
• Suno was previously sued for copyright infringement by the industry's three biggest record labels, but those cases have since been resolved.

Following this, Warner Music established a partnership with the company, which will enable users to create songs using the vocal likenesses, names, and images of Warner artists who agree to the service.

However, it remains unclear how many well-known artists will agree to such uses of their work.

Just last week, a collective of prominent musicians such as Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush released a vinyl album containing tracks of silence or audio of quiet studios in opposition to proposed changes to intellectual property regulations.

They argue these changes would make it simpler for AI companies to develop systems using protected work without securing a license.