Michael Smith, a 52-year-old man from North Carolina, has been arrested for allegedly using AI to create fake bands and music to generate over $10 million in fraudulent streaming royalties.
The DOJ reports Smith collaborated with an unnamed music promoter and the CEO of an AI music firm to produce 'hundreds of thousands of songs' that were then streamed fraudulently. 'We need to get a TON of songs fast,' he communicated to his accomplices, indicating a systematic approach to circumventing anti-fraud measures.
In one email, an AI company's CEO stated, 'Keep in mind what we're doing musically here, this is not 'music,' it's 'instant music' ;).' This highlights the nature of the operation by indicating a focus on volume over quality.
Smith faces serious charges, including money laundering and wire fraud, and could be sentenced to 20 years for each charge, underscoring the legal ramifications of his actions amid the struggles faced by legitimate artists.
Collection
[
|
...
]