First AI arist debuts on Billboard radi chart
AI artist Xamoa Monet has achieved a chart milestone, becoming the first AI musician to land a spot on a Billboard radio chart.
Monet has landed the thirtieth spot in this week’s Adult R&B Airplay Billboard chart with the song ‘How Was I Supposed to Know?’. On the track, the non-human artist sings during the soaring chorus, “How was I supposed to know what love looked like? / When daddy never showed me what felt right?”
This isn’t the only success the artist is enjoying. Monet recently signed a $3 million record deal with Hallwood Media. The music is surrounded by a team of humans, such as Mississippi poet Telisha Jones, who reportedly writes all of the lyrics.
Monet’s manager, Romel Murphy, has backed the artist, sharing, “Her song is resonating with the masses. That was our simple formula.”
He went on to explain, “If you had a, let’s say, traditional, artist and were a label and marketing executive, radio would be a piece of the promotion strategy. We’re interested in bringing the music to as many people as possible. Our goal is to continue to grow, continue to connect and hopefully get to number one.”
The debate revolving around AI’s place in the music industry is only growing. Another AI artist to enjoy mainstream success is The Velvet Sundown. It is still not clear who, or where, the project came from, though the fake band has drawn in millions of listens.
Many organisations in the music industry are embracing the technology. For example, Spotify have announced plans to “develop responsible AI products” in collaboration with major labels. The new initiative is in collaboration with Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Merlin, and Believe.
The announcement of the project comes after Spotify recently outlined plans to partner with ChatGPT to offer recommendations to users, which the streamer said is “a powerful new way for fans to connect with the artists and creators they love conversationally”.
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