Column: AI can perform a song, but can it make art?

"The most insulting thing about the success of Breaking Rust, an artificial intelligence "artist" that Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales Chart this week, is the titles of the hits. "Walk My Way." "Living on Borrowed Time." The EP - which is also on the charts - is called "Resilient," as if Breaking Rust spent years playing for tips in empty bars. And maybe Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, who is credited for writing the songs, did. But the bluesy voice we hear singing about pain and suffering did not overcome anything."

"In fact, you could say this completely computer-generated country singer found chart success by mocking people. A year ago, a handful of loud industry folks in Nashville questioned whether Beyoncé, who was born and raised in Texas, was country enough to do a country album. Good times. Today AI-generated "performers" such as Breaking Rust and Xania Monet, which hit the Billboard R&B charts, are suggesting you don't even need to be human to fit into those genres."

"Eric Church, whose latest release "Evangeline vs. the Machine," was nominated this month in the best contemporary country album category at the Grammys, told me he's not too worried because fans still want to see live shows and "AI algorithm is not going to be able to walk on stage and play." He says that the best thing the industry can do is establish AI music as its own genre and that award shows should establish a separate category."

Breaking Rust, an AI "artist," reached Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales Chart with singles titled "Walk My Way" and "Living on Borrowed Time" and an EP called "Resilient." Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor is credited as the songwriter. The vocals are computer-generated yet convey a bluesy voice singing about pain and suffering. AI performers like Xania Monet have also charted on Billboard R&B charts. Industry debates about genre authenticity have resurfaced, including past questions about Beyoncé's country credentials. Eric Church called AI a fad, urged a separate AI music category for awards, and emphasized that fans still want live shows.

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