TL;DR:
- Tennessee introduces the groundbreaking ELVIS Act to protect musicians from AI voice impersonation.
- The legislation is named after Elvis Presley and aims to ensure the security of artists’ voices and images.
- A diverse coalition of industry professionals, including prominent trade organizations, supports the initiative.
- Governor Bill Lee emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the unique talents of Tennessee’s music-makers.
- The legislation addresses concerns about the unauthorized use of performers’ vocal likenesses in AI-generated content.
- Legal experts suggest that regulating performers’ vocal characteristics is a promising strategy to tackle AI’s impact on the industry.
- Similar federal-level acts have been introduced, reflecting a nationwide concern over AI’s influence on entertainment.
Main AI News:
In a historic moment, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee gathered an illustrious assembly of the state’s music industry luminaries at RCA Studio B to unveil an ambitious legislative pursuit – the regulation of artificial intelligence in music. Termed the ELVIS Act for simplicity, which translates to the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act, this landmark legislation aims to protect the identities of artists and musicians from AI-driven impersonation.
The genesis of this legislation can be traced back to the preservation of the iconic Elvis Presley’s likeness, the “King of Rock and Roll.” The original legislation was instated as a response to concerns surrounding the unauthorized exploitation of Elvis’s identity.
The outpouring of support for the ELVIS Act transcended the confines of Elvis’s legacy, with a diverse coalition of industry professionals endorsing the initiative. Trade organizations such as the Recording Academy, Gospel Music Association, Folk Alliance International, Americana Music Association, Nashville Songwriters Association International, Rhythm and Blues Foundation, and SAG-AFTRA, to name a few, rallied behind the cause.
Mitch Glazier, the head of RIAA, took on the role of de facto master of ceremonies, passionately enumerating the participating institutions, record companies, and music-makers spanning various genres and specialties from both Nashville and Memphis. The crowd’s diversity and magnitude posed a challenge for photographers attempting to capture them in a single frame during the pivotal photo op.
Governor Lee emphasized the global prominence of Tennessee’s music-makers and stressed the need for legislative safeguards to protect their unique and irreplaceable talents. He acknowledged the existing legal protections but underlined the necessity for updated measures in the era of artificial intelligence.
The past year witnessed intense global debates regarding AI’s role in music, a multifaceted issue with numerous dimensions. Concerns range from AI platforms utilizing copyrighted material without permission to the expansion of copyright law to encompass compositions generated collaboratively by humans and AI.
However, the most pressing concern remains the unauthorized use of performers’ vocal likenesses. The industry remains haunted by the unsettlingly convincing yet entirely fabricated “collaboration” between Drake and The Weeknd that went viral last spring.
While speakers at the event discussed the protection of artistic input broadly, Tennessee’s forthcoming legislation specifically targets this issue. The governor’s press release promises “protections for songwriters, performers, and music industry professionals’ voices from the misuse of artificial intelligence.” Guitar virtuoso and country-pop artist Lindsay Ell passionately echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding artists against threats posed by AI deepfakes.
Legal experts assert that addressing the use of performers’ vocal likenesses, encompassing the unique characteristics of a singer’s timbre, tone, phrasing, and inflection, is the most promising approach to addressing AI’s growing influence.
Existing “right to publicity” laws in select states, including Tennessee, can be adapted to regulate the use of an individual’s voice in addition to their name and image.
While Tennessee spearheads these efforts at the state level, it’s important to note that the U.S. Senate introduced the Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe Act (NO FAKES Act), and the U.S. House unveiled the No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas and Unauthorized Duplications Act (NO AI FRAUD Act), underlining the nationwide concern over AI’s impact on the entertainment industry.
Conclusion:
The ELVIS Act represents a significant step forward in protecting artists and musicians from the risks posed by AI voice impersonation. By addressing the unauthorized use of performers’ vocal likenesses, Tennessee is setting a precedent that could have far-reaching implications for the entertainment industry. This legislation, along with federal-level acts, underscores the growing need to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI in music and entertainment.
