AI is at the heart of discussions this week. For the past two years, it has been a constant topic, whether in a positive or negative light. Let's take a closer look at what is being said about it!
#1. GEMA Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI
The German organization GEMA, a copyright and licensing collective, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. According to GEMA, the US-based company allegedly reproduced lyrics by German songwriters through ChatGPT without proper authorization.
GEMA, which represents the rights of about 95,000 members in Germany and over two million rights holders worldwide, claims OpenAI used copyrighted lyrics from its catalog to train its AI without compensating the artists. Several renowned German artists are backing this lawsuit, emphasizing the unlicensed exploitation of their work. To prevent similar issues in the future, GEMA recently introduced an "AI Charter" advocating for more responsible use of creative works by generative AI providers.
#2. Spotify Hits $1.5 Billion in Profits for 2024
Spotify is set to finish 2024 on a high, with an expected annual profit of $1.5 billion. It's a first! In Q3, the streaming service saw its Premium subscriber count rise to 252 million, up 12% year-over-year, adding 6 million new subscribers since the previous quarter.
On the financial side, Premium subscriptions generated $3.861 billion, with strong growth, especially in Europe and Latin America. Even in a challenging advertising environment, ad revenue grew by 7%. With positive results and a gross margin of 31.1%, Spotify is in great shape to close out the year on a high note!
#3. YouTube Allows Creators to Remix Songs with AI
YouTube continues to experiment with AI by allowing select creators to remix tracks using artificial intelligence tools. After launching the ability last year to generate AI-created songs with the voices of popular artists, the platform now offers a new feature called "Restyle a Track."
With this feature, creators can choose from a selection of songs available for the experiment and describe how they want to remix them (genre, mood, etc.). A 30-second modified version is then generated, which can be used in Shorts. Each remix will be credited to the original artist and marked as AI-modified.
#4. Feedback from Most Wanted Music 2024
At the 11th edition of the Most Wanted: Music conference in Berlin, discussions focused on whether it’s possible to reconcile long-sought goals like transparency, sustainability, and fair compensation with the need for increased revenue in the music industry. The answer is yes, but it will require collective effort and compromise to adopt a more tailored and less one-size-fits-all approach within the sector.
Green Operations Europe co-founder Linnéa Vågen Svensson emphasized the importance of more responsible resource management, particularly in the live music industry, where challenges vary from event to event (such as travel, food, etc.). The conference also addressed inclusivity, highlighting the need to better integrate parents into the music industry. Accessibility was also a key topic, with the *Sub_Bar* project showcasing music for deaf communities, and the event sparked a conversation about new opportunities in live music.
#5. The Uncertain Future of AI
As AI continues to fuel the ambitions of major tech companies, the future of this revolution remains surrounded by numerous questions. While giants like Google and Microsoft are making massive investments to support the immense energy demands of their AI models, the profitability of these technologies is still uncertain.
AI generates high expectations but also presents practical challenges. Its integration into creative or industrial processes has yet to prove that it can accelerate production while significantly reducing costs. Its impact could also lead to higher production costs, a decline in content quality, and potential market saturation with a flood of unoriginal content. Facing these challenges, companies may be forced to adjust their strategies or explore new sectors, such as energy.
