Episode 1 | February 29, 2024 

How is AI Tuning Up Your Music?

What if The Beatles used AI to help produce their last song? With a little help from their friend — Peter Jackson’s AI machine — the Beatles rescued John Lennon's voice from a1970s demo, allowing them to remix and release their last new song — “Now and Then” — nearly 50 years after Lennon sang it at the piano. 

But AI has been used in pop recording sessions for years, and tools like AudioShake can separate vocal and instrumental stems. AI can also clean up and enhance vocals, as demonstrated with a 1923 Bessie Smith recording. AI is used in various ways in music production, from recommending songs to enhancing live performances. However, the use of AI in music raises ethical and legal issues, such as copyright ownership and the fair use of deceased musicians' work. What’s next for AI in music includes spatial audio and new opportunities for collaboration. 

Join guests Drew Thurlow, founder of Opening Ceremony Media; Jessica Powell, CEO, AudioShake.ai; Dan Green, Professor, and the Director of the Entertainment Industry Management Program at Carnegie Mellon University; and Brett Crawford, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Director of the Arts and Entertainment Management programs. 

Resources
Watch the Beatles documentary(opens in new window) on the making of “Now and Then”