Jorja Smith’s label seeks royalties over AI-generated vocals in viral song

Jorja Smith’s record label, FAMM, is seeking a share of royalties for the song ‘I Run’ by British dance act Haven, claiming the track used an AI-generated voice resembling Smith’s. The song went viral on TikTok and was initially removed from streaming platforms after copyright concerns. Haven’s producers, Harrison Walker and Jacob Donaghue, admit to using AI software called Suno to modify Walker’s vocals to sound female. They assert that the song was written and produced by them, and the AI merely assisted in transforming the vocal tone. Suno acknowledges its AI was trained on copyrighted works under fair use, but it is unclear if Smith’s recordings were included. Despite the controversy, the song was re-released with new vocals and entered the UK Top 40. FAMM frames this as a precedent for AI’s role in the music industry, urging clear labeling of AI-generated content and highlighting risks to artists’ intellectual property. The case highlights growing debates about AI in music creation, with other artists and labels taking action to protect their work. Notably, musicians like Paul McCartney and Annie Lennox released a vinyl of silent tracks in protest against potential copyright changes that could allow AI training without permission.