Grimes Weighs In On Drake/Weeknd AI Track: "Feel Free to Use My Voice"

Grimes is open to splitting 50 per cent of royalties for any successful AI-generated song that uses her voice. The Canadian singer took to Twitter to explain.

Grimes at Met Gala a few years ago
Getty

Grimes at Met Gala a few years ago

Grimes at Met Gala a few years ago

Though many artists are skeptical about the inclusion of artificial intelligence in music, Grimes is ready to embrace it. The Canadian singer is open to splitting 50 percent of royalties for any successful AI-generated song that uses her voice.

Grimes took to Twitter over the weekend to comment on the Drake/Weeknd A.I. track to say that she’d allow artists to use her voice in songs without repercussions.

β€œI’ll split 50% royalties on any successful AI generated song that uses my voice,” Grimes wrote.Β β€œSame deal as I would with any artist I collab with. Feel free to use my voice without penalty. Β I have no label and no legal bindings.”

I'll split 50% royalties on any successful AI generated song that uses my voice. Same deal as I would with any artist i collab with. Feel free to use my voice without penalty. I have no label and no legal bindings. pic.twitter.com/KIY60B5uqt

— π”Šπ”―π”¦π”ͺ𝔒𝔰 (@Grimezsz) April 24, 2023

Grimes posted her tweet with a screenshot of a New York Times article that recapped what had happened with an A.I. generated song featuring the voices of Drake and The Weeknd. After gaining traction and sparking more debate on the ethics of A.I. in art, the track was removed from streaming services.

The β€œOblivion” singer followed up her initial tweet with an explanation of her reasoning.

β€œI think it’s cool to be fused w[ith]Β a machine and I like the idea of open sourcing all art and killing copyright,” she said.

I think it's cool to be fused w a machine and I like the idea of open sourcing all art and killing copyright

— π”Šπ”―π”¦π”ͺ𝔒𝔰 (@Grimezsz) April 24, 2023

In addition to Grimes’ blessing to use her voice, she added that she’s in the process of making a program that could simulate her voice as well as upload stems so people could train. While this program isn’t complete, Grimes claims that her team is advanced in the development stages.

We're making a program that should simulate my voice well but we could also upload stems and samples for ppl to train their own

— π”Šπ”―π”¦π”ͺ𝔒𝔰 (@Grimezsz) April 24, 2023

She later added exceptions, like if her voice is used for something β€œtoxic.” β€œLike no baby murder songs plz,” she said, orΒ β€œdon’t wanna be responsible for a Nazi anthem unless it’s somehow in jest a la producers I guess.”

Ok hate this part but we may do copyright takedowns ONLY for rly rly toxic lyrics w grimes voice: imo you'd rly have to push it for me to wanna take smthn down but I guess plz don't be *the worst*. as in, try not to exit the current Overton window of lyrical content w regards to…

— π”Šπ”―π”¦π”ͺ𝔒𝔰 (@Grimezsz) April 24, 2023

Grimes also recently renamed her one-year-old daughter with Elon MuskΒ β€œY.” 

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