- Title: Nigerian producer pumps out AI-powered Afrobeats
- Date: 8th August 2023
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSIC PRODUCER, ECLIPSE NKASI, SAYING: “In the end, this is just a tool. And that is why I am a strong advocate for the ethical use of AI. And going forward it is my plan to host maybe workshops and certain trainings to help more creatives embrace AI, most importantly, embrace it from an ethical standpoint to know that there is a way to use these tools that enhances the work that you create as opposed to taking someone else’s work.†LAGOS, NIGERIA (AUGUST 4, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MUSIC CRITIC (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSIC CRITIC AND SOCIAL COMMENTATOR, OMOTOLANI ALAKE, SAYING: “There are different ways the AI will affect the music industry. There are negatives, there are positives. On the positive side, the production of the music will get much better. Things that human beings used to do will get much better like the pluggins, the tools, the cleaning, mastering, the mixing.†OMOTOLANI ALAKE PRESSING A MOBILE PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSIC CRITIC AND SOCIAL COMMENTATOR, OMOTOLANI ALAKE, SAYING: “We are at the very beginning, we have not even started creating laws and regulations around AI. Like there will be laws and regulations around AI, people need to calm down. Everything regularises and levels out. Countries will create laws around AI in terms of copyright and laws. And what’s going to happen? ChatGPT can’t own rights to music. It’s not going to happen. It’s never going to happen. ChatGPT is going to be a tool, not a creator.â€
- Embargoed: 22nd August 2023 08:20
- Keywords: AFROBEAT AI Artificial intelligence MUSIC NIGERIA
- Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- City: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Africa,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA006121731072023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: When artificial intelligence (AI) apps started spreading in Nigeria's music industry, Eclipse Nkasi thought his days as a producer were numbered.
Then he took a step back, saw there were opportunities as well as threats and used the technology to generate a whole new Afrobeats album in his studio on the outskirts of Lagos.
In the past, it would have taken him thousands of dollars and up to three months to compose the tracks, recruit the musicians, record the performances, knock them into shape in a traditional studio and get them out to fans.
This one took about three days and $500.
Nkasi and three friends switched on OpenAI's ChatGPT programme and set it to work helping them create the nine-track album "Infinite Echoes".
They asked it to auto-generate songs lyrics and song titles - including "God Whispers", "Love Tempo", and "Dream Chaser". Then they modified the words themselves to fit into their chosen theme - a struggling artist who will not give up their passion to create music.
Then they used another AI tool to generate the tunes. Nkasi recorded some vocals and fed them into yet another app - which transformed his vocals into the voice of the album's generated singer.
That virtual "singer" is called Mya Blue who appears in front of her audience online as a computer animation.
"There are certain things that will become obsolete" due to AI, Nkasi said. But it should also create opportunities for artists to reinvent themselves and do their work better and quicker, he added.
The technology is already transforming the industry and could have a positive impact on production values and other technical sides to the recording process, said Lagos-based music critic Omotolani Alake.
But there are still lots of uncertainties and areas, including copyright, that need to be considered and developed, he added. "We are at the very beginning."
(Vining Ogu and Angela Ukommadu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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