AI Revives Randy Travis' Voice for New Song, Ignites Ethical Debate in Music Industry

November 22, 2024
AI Revives Randy Travis' Voice for New Song, Ignites Ethical Debate in Music Industry
  • Mary Travis expressed disbelief at the prospect of hearing her husband's voice again after 11 years of silence due to his health issues.

  • Randy Travis suffered a massive stroke over a decade ago, which left him unable to sing due to aphasia.

  • Kyle Lehning, Travis' longtime producer, initially found the idea of using AI to recreate Travis' voice unsettling but later collaborated on the project.

  • Following the success of the new song, Travis' team is considering creating an entire album using the AI model voice and other donor voices, indicating strong ongoing interest from fans.

  • The Travises are aware of the ethical implications of AI in music and have testified before Congress about potential risks, including the unauthorized use of artists' voices.

  • Mary Travis emphasized the importance of consent in using AI technology, stating, "It feels like identity theft" when artists' voices are exploited without permission.

  • In 2023, Randy Travis, a revered country music performer, released a new song titled "Where That Came From," made possible through artificial intelligence technology.

  • A London-based tech firm developed a unique AI model of Travis' voice using recordings from 1985 to 2010 to create this new song.

  • To complement the AI-generated voice, rising country singer James Dupré provided the lyrics, blending his voice with Travis' in the recording process.

  • Fans experienced the new AI song live at a concert in Pensacola, resulting in a standing ovation for the Travises.

Summary based on 1 source


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