How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Music 261
mbone writes "Ever wonder how Jimi Hendrix would cover Lady Gaga? Whether you do or not [I'm guessing not], you may be about to find out. Writing for Wired, Eliot Van Buskirk describes North Carolina's Zenph Sound Innovations, which takes existing recordings of musicians (deceased, for now) and models their 'musical personalities' to create new recordings, apparently to critical acclaim (PDF). The company has raised $10.7 million in funding to pursue their business plan, and hopes to branch out into, among other things, software that would let musicians jam with virtual versions of famous musicians. This work unites music with the very similar trend going on in the movies — Tron 2.0, for example, will clone the young Jeff Bridges. If this goes on, will the major labels and studios actually need musicians and actors? In the future, it could be harder to make money playing guitar with all of the competition from dead or retired artists."
roll over, beethoven, (Score:5, Funny)
tell Tchaikovsky the news.
Hell's waiting room (Score:4, Funny)
Hendrix covering Lady Gaga is what they play while you're waiting for Satan to bake up all those donuts you are about to get force fed. And it only goes downhill from there.
Jimi Hendrix + Lady Gaga? (Score:5, Funny)
I think I speak for everyone when I say no, no I haven't.
Hendrix (Score:1, Funny)
Ever wonder how Jimi Hendrix would cover Lady Gaga?
With semen?
But the artists... (Score:5, Funny)
If this goes on, will the major labels and studios actually need musicians and actors? In the future, it could be harder to make money playing guitar with all of the competition from dead or retired artists.
That's ridiculous! The studios would never let that happen. I mean after all, the MPAA and RIAA have spent the last few years fighting hard to ensure every artist keeps their God-given right to get make as much money as possible for their work. After all, it's all about the artists, right? The very suggestion that the recording/movie studios would dispense with artists at the drop of a hat if they could keep every single penny for themselves is laughable!
Re:Good music comes from PAIN. (Score:4, Funny)
The best music comes from PAIN. The kind of PAIN that only somebody who has been to hell and back can truly understand.
They could write the software in COBOL.
Re:It's a shame, but I'm ok with it (Score:4, Funny)
Well, let's not try to make this such a black and white issues.
Take Keith Richards for instance...people have been claiming he's been dead for years now, yet he still occasionally denies it.
What to do in his case?
What do you call a drummer... (Score:3, Funny)
who broke up with his girlfriend?
Homeless.
Re:What do you call a drummer... (Score:4, Funny)
What does a blonde do with her asshole just before sex?
Drops him off at band practice.
Re:It's a shame, but I'm ok with it (Score:2, Funny)
Oh, and as a Canadian, I'd like to apologize to the rest of the world for Nickleback. We're not happy about them either. Sorry.
NICKLEBACK is what you apologize for?!? Just Nickelback?!?!?
Re:It's a shame, but I'm ok with it (Score:3, Funny)
How do we know that Nickleback isn't one of these musical AI's?
Oh, right. These AIs are producing music that is receiving critical and fan acclaim.
Re:It's a shame, but I'm ok with it (Score:5, Funny)
I don't know what "Zophar has Manboobs" is, but it sounds like something that desperately needs a cover. Preferably thick tarpaulin, but I'd settle for a good shirt.
Re:roll over, beethoven, (Score:3, Funny)
No, no artificial stupidity is where the real change is at.