Last week the Atlantic posted an upsetting report about datasets of music that are being used to train AI. If they weren't already aware, major artists from Bad Bunny to Nirvana are part of it. The Atlantic identified over 21 million recordings across four datasets. I even did a quick search on my favorite artists such as Squirrel Flower and the Cramps, and both of their music included. One of the many artists who's speaking out after searching their name is SZA.
Yesterday, the SOS singer posted on her regular Instagram and finsta, criticizing the theft and pointing out the exploitative threat that this poses to creatives, specifically Black artists. She posted a screengrab of a search for her name, and she found that 238 of her songs, some of which are unreleased, were used to train AI models:
Jus checked and music Ai has Trained off 238 of my songs. Im certain some unreleased. If your a musician and you support this degenerate shit? Your disgusting and there's NOTHING YOU COULD EVER SAY TO ME TO MAKE THIS OKAY. I hope u have the life u deserve.
Captioning a screengrab of a post from her niece, the musician VANS, SZA wrote:
This actually what set me off.. this post is from my niece @thatsvans. Just A baby 20 something Taught herself how to play guitar, produce,write and sing all by herself. Working her ass off !!! Doing the real due diligence. Not even using ME to her advantage. Now Her unreleased song that she teased and others were stolen.. before she can even get off the ground? It's not right. It's not fair. if u care ab the future ..Protect the youth
And she called out Diplo who has been an advocate of AI and artists conforming to its use. A few months ago the producer went viral for a podcast interview in which he said creatives need to use AI or “give up.” SZA wrote:
lonno who needs to hear this but diplo has equity in suno and is actively attempting to train it on the best and brightest black minds of writers and producers. We make up 13% of the American population yet influence the world w our sound and perspective. I AINT HEARD A WHITE AI SONG YET.. why so disproportionate? We have no protection in legislature medical or creative. The easiest to steal from . DO NOT GIVE AWAY YOUR VIBRANIUM !!! DO NOT TRAIN AI W YOUR GENIUS. Fuck these weird ass vultures. I want smoke all summer
She also reshared a post about Tyler, The Creator wishing “death to all data centers” in Georgia.
There's no documentation that I could find that ties Diplo as an investor in Suno, although he is a strong advocate and user of the software. In another interview a few weeks ago, he expressed admiration for the latest version of Suno, saying that it's getting better at moving around and adding stems to different songs. "I use a lot now just like idea-wise,” Diplo said. “There’s not much that has been released yet but there is gonna be a lot that has little things I’ve added."
Diplo is also an investor in the AI company Aaru. Or maybe SZA has some info we're not privy to. Suno did reveal that “leading artists, songwriters and producers” participated in this month’s fundraising round that valued the company at $5.4 billion. The company didn't disclose who the investors were.
Producer Kenneth Blume FKA Kenny Beats also posted some strong words for the AI company on his social media:
Hey
@suno You are true losers. Whoever’s running this account, and your boss, and their bosses boss. I can’t imagine going into work daily knowing you are stealing from countless struggling musicians. I can’t imagine being proud to earn a paycheck obliterating the work and dreams of artists. Get fucked, every single one of you
Check out SZA’s posts below.
