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The record label representing Brit Award-winning singer Jorja Smith has stated its desire to receive a share of earnings from a track it asserts was created using an artificial intelligence "clone" of the singer's unique voice.

The track, titled 'I Run' by British dance act Haven, gained widespread popularity on social media last October, partly due to its smooth soul vocals by an unnamed woman vocalist.

Despite its success and impending top 40 entry in both UK and US, the track was later removed by leading music services after industry organizations sent copyright notices, stating it violated intellectual property law by imitating another artist.

Even though 'I Run' has since been re-released with completely new singing, Smith's label, FAMM, maintains it is convinced the initial recording was made with AI trained on her extensive work and is now seeking appropriate compensation.

A Broader Issue at Stake

"The situation is not only about Jorja. It's larger than a single performer or a single track," the label stated in a recent announcement.

FAMM also stated its view that "each versions of the song infringe on the artist's legal rights and unfairly take advantage of the creative output of all the writers with whom she collaborates."

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

Implying that her supporters were possibly misled by Haven's original track, the label concluded: "Our industry cannot allow this to be the new normal."

Creators Admit Employing AI Technology

The duo responsible for the song have openly confirmed utilizing AI during its production process.

Songwriter Harrison Walker clarified that the initial vocals were actually his own but were heavily manipulated using AI music platform Suno, often referred to as the "advanced tool for music".

Meanwhile, the other member, Waypoint, whose real name is Jacob Donaghue, stated on social media that AI was used to "apply our original vocal a female tone".

Donaghue and Walker assert that they composed and created the song themselves and have even shared evidence of their source production sessions.

"It is no secret that I used AI-powered vocal editing to transform exclusively my voice for 'I Run'," Walker elaborated.

"As a songwriter and maker, I enjoy using innovative technologies, techniques and staying on the forefront of what's happening," he continued.

"In order to set the facts clear, the artists behind HAVEN are real and people, and all we aim to do is make enjoyable music for fellow humans."

Regulatory Uncertainty and Industry Impact

Although their first release of 'I Run' was blocked from major charts, the new version managed to break into the UK Top 40 recently.

FAMM has framed the entire episode as a significant test case for the music industry's changing interaction with artificial intelligence.

The label argued it had "a duty to speak up" and "encourage wider discussion", because AI is proliferating at an "rapid rate and significantly exceeding regulation".

"Computer-created material should be transparently identified as such so that the audience may choose whether they listen to it or not," the statement continued.

Artists as 'Unintended Damage'

Smith shared her label's position on her own Instagram page.

The post warned that artists and creators were turning into "collateral damage in the race by governments and tech firms towards AI dominance".

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

"If we are successful in establishing that AI helped to compose the words and melody in 'I Run' and are granted a share of the song, we would aim to assign every one of Jorja's co-writers with a corresponding share," it explained.

The Continuing Rise of Computer-Generated Music

The emergence of AI-generated music has been a source of both interest and consternation for the entertainment world.

• In June, the band Velvet Sundown gathered vast numbers of plays before disclosing they used AI to aid develop their musical style.
• Last month, an AI-generated "performer" known as Breaking Rust topped a US genre sales chart, showing that listeners are not always opposed to consuming computer-generated music.
• Suno was previously sued for alleged violations by the world's three biggest record labels, though those cases have now been resolved.

Following this, Warner Music established a partnership with the firm, which will allow users to generate songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner acts who agree to the program.

However, it is unclear how many established artists will consent to such uses of their work.

Just last week, a group of prominent musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush issued a vinyl album featuring silent songs or recordings of empty studios in protest to proposed changes to copyright law.

They contend these amendments would make it easier for AI companies to train systems using protected work without obtaining a permission.