AI-Generated Band “The Velvet Sundown” Sparks Debate, Highlighting Copyright and Authenticity Concerns

The meteoric rise of “The Velvet Sundown,” an indie-rock outfit recently dominating streaming charts, has ignited a fierce global debate over the burgeoning landscape of AI-generated music, challenging notions of copyright, authenticity, and the very definition of artistry. While the band boasts hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners and a polished sound reminiscent of 70s psychedelic rock, a conspicuous lack of real-world presence has led many to suspect their human origins.

Skepticism first emerged from eagle-eyed Reddit users who noted the band’s suspiciously AI-generated profile pictures, a fabricated Billboard quote in their bio, and the complete absence of any verifiable online footprint for their listed members. Despite a defiant statement from an X (formerly Twitter) account claiming to represent the band, insisting their music was “human” and crafted in “long, sweaty nights,” further revelations have only deepened the mystery. A self-proclaimed spokesperson for “The Velvet Sundown” initially admitted to creating the music using an AI tool like Suno as an “art hoax,” only for this spokesperson to later be exposed as a separate, unrelated hoax.

This bewildering saga has brought to the forefront the pressing legal and ethical quandaries surrounding AI in music. Streaming platforms like Spotify have yet to implement clear labeling for AI-generated content, leaving listeners in the dark. Deezer, a notable outlier, has begun flagging some of “The Velvet Sundown’s” tracks as potentially AI-generated, with its CEO confidently stating the music is “100 percent” AI-produced.

The implications for copyright are particularly thorny. In India, like many other nations, existing copyright law, primarily the Copyright Act of 1957, was drafted long before the advent of sophisticated AI. It largely hinges on the concept of human authorship, making it difficult to determine who, if anyone, owns the rights to music created by an algorithm. While some legal interpretations suggest a human who “causes the work to be created” might be considered the author, the increasingly autonomous nature of AI tools blurs this line.

The “Velvet Sundown” controversy underscores the urgent need for updated legal frameworks worldwide to address these new forms of creation. Musicians and industry stakeholders are demanding greater transparency from AI developers and streaming services, advocating for clear labeling, fair compensation models, and robust protections against the unauthorized use of copyrighted material for AI training. As AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the music industry grapples with striking a delicate balance between fostering innovation and safeguarding the livelihoods and creative integrity of human artists.