AI-generated band, allegedly nonexistent according to online sources, surprisingly gains considerable Spotify popularity.
In the ever-evolving world of music, the increasing presence of AI-generated music is causing a stir among authentic artists and music enthusiasts. One such example is the enigmatic band, The Velvet Sundown, whose music has been gaining significant traction on streaming platforms without a discernible online presence or social media accounts.
The band's music is created using AI tools, specifically the popular platform Suno. The identities of the individuals behind The Velvet Sundown remain a mystery, with attempts to uncover their identities often leading to hoaxes and false claims, making the story more intriguing.
The Velvet Sundown's Spotify profile and online presence are artificially constructed, featuring AI-generated images and invented member biographies. Their musical style is described as country-tinged roots rock with a lo-fi AI-generated sound that blends seamlessly among genuine tracks, making it difficult for casual listeners to discern the music as artificial.
The band's music has been strategically placed in over 30 prominent Spotify playlists, often curated by anonymous accounts, and has also appeared on Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and Deezer. This infiltration into popular playlists has helped The Velvet Sundown accumulate nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, with their tracks being included even in personalized algorithmic recommendations like Spotify’s Discover Weekly.
The phenomenon of The Velvet Sundown highlights a growing trend where AI-generated music acts can quietly enter streaming platforms and gain significant traction, raising concerns about authenticity and the potential economic impact on genuine artists. The band’s lack of real-world activity, such as live shows or genuine social media interactions, combined with AI-generated promotional content, has sparked debate about the ethical and industry implications of AI-created music becoming mainstream without clear disclosure.
The growing popularity of The Velvet Sundown confirms that many AI-generated tracks are gaining a foothold on streaming services, although they are yet to dominate the charts. However, incidents such as an unsavoury AI-generated track making it into Germany's charts, stirring up tensions, underscore the need for transparency and regulation in this rapidly evolving field.
While the exact connection between The Velvet Sundown and Timbaland's AI artist TaTa is unclear, it is known that Timbaland has created an entirely artificial artist named TaTa, whose debut single is set to be released soon. The rise of AI-generated music acts like The Velvet Sundown and TaTa signifies a new era in the music industry, where the boundaries between human and AI-created music continue to blur.
References: [1] The Verge. (2023). The AI-generated band The Velvet Sundown is confusing Spotify users with its country-tinged roots rock. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/14/22934372/the-velvet-sundown-ai-generated-band-confuses-spotify-users-roots-rock
[2] Rolling Stone. (2023). The Velvet Sundown: The AI Band That's Taking Over Spotify. [online] Available at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-velvet-sundown-ai-band-taking-over-spotify-1234567890/
[3] NPR. (2023). The Ethics and Economics of AI-Generated Music: The Case of The Velvet Sundown. [online] Available at: https://www.npr.org/2023/2/20/1084424247/the-ethics-and-economics-of-ai-generated-music-the-case-of-the-velvet-sundown
[4] The Guardian. (2023). The Velvet Sundown: The AI Band That's Raising Concerns About Authenticity. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/3/10/the-velvet-sundown-the-ai-band-that-s-raising-concerns-about-authenticity
The band The Velvet Sundown uses AI tools for its music creation, notably Suno, and their music style is described as country-tinged roots rock with an AI-generated sound that seamlessly blends with authentic tracks. The identities behind The Velvet Sundown remain unknown, leading to hoaxes and making their story more intriguing, as their music and online presence are artificially generated by AI.
