Artificial intelligence and in particular ChatGPT, this robot capable of writing texts in response to simple questions, has been making a lot of noise lately. In music, does AI sign the death of composers and musicians?
In 1955 appeared the first piece of computer-generated music. That of Hiller and Isaacson at the University of Illinois in the United States. Asking science for help in composing music is therefore not new.
Already in the 6th century BC, Pythagoras linked a number to a note. Johann Sebastian Bach in the 17th century used mathematical and geometric methods, and Mozart, the recombination of fragments drawn by lot with dice. Two years ago, artificial intelligence completed Beethoven’s unfinished 10th symphony by feeding on the few sketches left by the composer.
>> To see: Beethoven’s 10th symphony completed thanks to artificial intelligence
musical experiments
There are many experiments. David Bowie in particular worked with a random speech generator in the 1990s. Currently, the famous ChatGPT generates text in the style of Nick Cave. Another example dating from three years ago: an imitation of the famous American rapper Travis Scott by a certain Travis Bott: the artificial intelligence swallowed his repertoire for two weeks before regurgitating an original piece.
Artificial intelligence music companies are booming. Some have already been bought by big labels like Warner. It must be said that the financial potential is enormous: to recreate hits modeled on thousands of others thanks to artificial intelligence, to target the tastes of the public even more, to pocket all the royalties, all that without paying the salary of musicians.
>> To listen: the title “Jack Park Canny Dope Man” by Travis Bott generated by Space150 technology
AI, a tool for music
So, will the musicians be replaced? The question has been latent since the 1970s with the arrival of synthesizers, then drum machines and finally sampled sounds. Yet for the moment, the artists are still there. Artificial intelligence appears rather as a tool intended for musicians who have often used it.
Radio subject: Yves Zahno
Adaptation web: ld