Beyoncé's latest album, "Cowboy Carter," emerges not only as a record-breaking success but also as a significant statement against the increasing influence of AI in the music industry.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: Beyoncé accepts Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for “Renaissance” onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Given Beyoncé's reserved nature when it comes to interviews, her comments carry substantial weight, offering fans valuable insights into the album's creative process and thematic direction. This deliberate stance against AI underscores Beyoncé's commitment to preserving the purity and artistry of music production.
It's understandable why artists like Beyoncé feel strongly about this issue. Numerous AI models have been trained on artists' creations without their permission.
This is particularly concerning for emerging musicians who lack the influence to protect their work, making it even more challenging to succeed in an already competitive industry. Beyoncé's perspective is further illuminated when considering her latest album, "Cowboy Carter."
Themes of Artistic Theft, Appropriation in "Cowboy Carter"
Although the album doesn't explicitly touch on AI, it delves into themes of artistic theft and appropriation. Through "Cowboy Carter," Beyoncé educates listeners on the historical contributions of Black musicians to country music, a genre often associated solely with Southern white culture.
The title "Cowboy Carter" holds deeper connotations, serving as a commentary on the appropriation of Black music for the benefit of white culture. While the term "Carter" may allude to Beyoncé's marital name, it also references the Carters, regarded as the "first family" of country music.
However, TechCrunch reported that the Carters built their style upon the work of Black musicians, excluding them from the genre's recognition.
This exclusion persists, as evidenced by a recent incident where an Oklahoma country radio station declined to play Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em" upon a listener's request, citing Beyoncé's divergence from their narrow definition of country music.
Beyoncé's unexpected critique of AI technology resonates with this narrative. It reveals a parallel truth: artists' creations are once again being appropriated without consent, transformed into something different, and devoid of proper acknowledgment or compensation for their cultural contributions.
Country legend Willie Nelson, aged ninety, makes an appearance on a radio program dubbed "Smoke Hour," preceding the track "Texas Hold 'Em." This placement assumes added significance in the wake of the Oklahoma radio controversy.
This encapsulates Beyoncé's vision: a resurgence of the jukebox and radio culture, where Black musicians have the freedom to explore diverse musical styles without fear of appropriation or exploitation.
Critics oppose AI-generated art primarily due to the mechanics behind this technology. AI-driven music generators can swiftly produce original tracks and mimic artists' voices with remarkable accuracy. This is often attributed to the AI's training on the catalog of artists, potentially jeopardizing their livelihoods.
