Vocalist AI has unveiled the public beta version of its Vocalist.ai platform that lets producers, songwriters, and creators transform vocal inputs into the voices of professional singers and rappers without incurring royalty fees.
This AI platform allows users to take their existing vocal recordings and manipulate them into entirely new voices.
Vocalist AI uses algorithms and high-speed GPU processing to achieve vocal transformations. Users simply upload a vocal recording, whether it’s a quick iPhone note or a polished studio track, and then select from a curated library of voice models. These models feature the voices of singers and rappers who have worked with industry giants like Beyoncé, Avicii, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, and Lizzo.
In a matter of clicks, users can transform their original vocal into the chosen artist’s voice, says Vocalist AI.
The singers whose voices contribute to the platform are compensated based on their usage, ensuring their talent is recognized while simultaneously providing creators with royalty-free compositions, the company says.
Vocalist AI is led by industry veterans Andrew Frampton and Max Farrar. Frampton, an award-winning songwriter and record producer, has penned hits for artists like The Script, Lewis Capaldi, Alan Walker, Natasha Bedingfield, Pitbull, J. Balvin, and R3HAB, and has helped sign, develop and break multiple artists globally.
“We approached Vocalist.ai completely from the perspective of giving professionals a tool that addresses the real challenges they face in the music production landscape.”
Andrew Frampton, Vocalist AI
Farrar, a Los Angeles-based platinum-selling songwriter with Latin Grammy nominations, has also written and produced songs for Lewis Capaldi, The Script, Far East Movement, and Au/Ra. His songs have been featured in video games such as Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding. He has also scored advertising music for Nvidia, Activision (Tour Of Duty) and Verizon.
“There is a growing sense within the creator economy that the future will belong to those who supplement their songwriting and production with AI tools and the possibilities they bring,” said Frampton.
“We approached Vocalist.ai completely from the perspective of giving professionals a tool that addresses the real challenges they face in the music production landscape. Our ‘voices’ are from a world-class pool of talent and we’re proud to be working in a framework that rewards the artists involved.”
While Vocalist AI presents a seemingly ethical solution to the issue, the launch coincides with ongoing debates surrounding voice cloning apps. Last month, MBW reported that vocal cloning service Jammable, formerly Voicify.ai, had some 3,000 unlicensed AI-generated voice models available on its service, including the vocals of Adele, Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Eminem, Ariana Grande, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, George Michael, Elvis Presley, Prince, Tupac Shakur, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Amy Winehouse.
The service was created by a 20-year-old British computer science student.
“Our ‘voices’ are from a world-class pool of talent and we’re proud to be working in a framework that rewards the artists involved.”
Andrew Frampton, Vocalist AI
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) singled out Jammable last fall, saying in its submission to the Office of the US Trade Representative’s Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy that the platform “stream-rips the YouTube video selected by the user, copies the acapella from the track, modifies the acapella using the AI vocal model, and then provides to the user unauthorized copies of the modified acapella stem, the underlying instrumental bed, and the modified remixed recording.”
Just last week, superstars like Billie Eilish, Katy Perry, Finneas, Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and the estate of Bob Marley signed an open letter calling on AI developers, tech companies, and digital services “to cease the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists”.
“We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem,” stated the letter issued by US-based advocacy organization the Artist Rights Alliance on April 2.
Last month, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, unveiled a new voice cloning tool called Voice Engine, but opted to hold off on a public release. Citing potential risks, they emphasized a “cautious and informed approach” before wider accessibility due to the “potential for synthetic voice misuse.”
Meanwhile, Vocalist AI says it anticipates a wide range of applications of its new voice transformation platform within the music industry “catering to genuine needs within the music creator industry,” such as songwriters struggling with their own vocals. They can use Vocalist.ai to hear their track come alive with a professional voice, the startup says.
The company says it also provides access to “world-class vocal talent” for emerging songwriters and smaller production teams that often lack resources, and the ability to craft background vocals for DJs.
Music Business Worldwide