19th May 1967: The Beatles celebrate the completion of their new album, ‚Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts … [+] Club Band‘, at a press conference held at the west London home of their manager Brian Epstein. The LP is released on June 1st. (Photo by John Pratt/Keystone/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesIn the music industry, technological innovation is often celebrated as artists continually push the boundaries of creativity with new hardware and programs. The Beatles, legendary pioneers of the business, have once again stepped into the spotlight, this time with a groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create one final song. While their announcement has left fans both excited and intrigued, it begs the question: why aren’t more musicians following suit?
Paul McCartney revealed the exciting news earlier this summer, confirming that the two remaining members of the band had been working on a previously unreleased song. This untitled track has a unique origin, as McCartney explained to the BBC, „When we came to make what will be the last Beatles record, it was a demo that John [Lennon] had that we worked on.“
What sets this forthcoming song apart is the innovative use of artificial intelligence in its creation. McCartney clarified, „We were able to take John’s voice and get it pure through this AI so that we could mix the record as you would normally do.“ Contrary to some concerns, AI isn’t replicating the Beatles’s voices but rather enhancing the original material, resulting in a cleaner and more refined sound. This technology had previously been employed during the production of The Beatles‘ documentary Get Back, and now the band is using it to put out one last single.
This exciting and forward-thinking approach has broader implications for the music industry. The band is using AI to revitalize old demos that were once considered unusable, demonstrating the potential for artists to breathe new life into forgotten or discarded material. The impending release of a new Beatles song in 2023 is poised to be one of the most highly anticipated musical events of the year, and it may be just the beginning for this type of release.
So, why aren’t more artists exploring similar possibilities with AI? Advances in the technology continue to evolve, offering musicians new avenues for creativity and innovation. Countless recordings from various artists and bands could benefit from this method. It’s not an overly complex process for those well-versed in AI, and many acts may possess a trove of previously overlooked material ripe for transformation.
McCartney’s recent explanation of the technology used in this Beatles project has clarified misconceptions and assuaged concerns, at least for some fans who were worried when the news first broke. With the AI issue seemingly addressed in a very public manner, now is a prime moment for more artists to embrace this tech. By doing so, they can unlock hidden gems from their archives and potentially introduce a new generation of listeners to their music.