FROM THE FRONTIER
Click here for a teaser into Higgsfield’s AI-generated music label. Source: Higgsfield AI
AI startup Higgsfield just launched an AI record label with an AI-generated K-pop idol named Kion, aimed at “democratizing fame” by helping anyone become a global music icon — no conventional singing or dancing talent required. The startup claims that “multi-million contracts (are) already in motion”.
This isn’t AI’s first rodeo. AI-generated tracks are now pulling in millions of streams across platforms. Take The Velvet Sundown, for instance. The AI-generated soft-rock band that racked up 1M+ Spotify streams. You can catch them in action here.
Record labels are catching the beat. Speculative forecasts suggest that the global AI music market, valued at $2.9B in 2024, could hit $38.7B in 2033. French streaming service Deezer estimates that 18% of daily uploads are now AI-generated — that’s roughly 20K tracks a day. Major labels are scrambling to keep up: Sony, Universal, and Warner are pushing for licensing deals and equity in AI music companies like Suno and Udio.
AI music is passing the uncanny valley. Last month, singer Emily Portman found that an AI-generated track, trained on her voice, had fooled countless fans into thinking the music was her’s. According to MIT, most people “may not care whether the music they listen to is made by humans or machines”. Only 46% can actually tell the difference.
For human artists, the implications are existential. As AI floods platforms with content at little marginal cost, breaking through becomes significantly harder. Last year, more than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish and Stevie Wonder, signed an open letter calling on AI companies to curb the “predatory use” of AI in music.
via SuperHuman