The Beatles are set to release what is believed to be their last ever song, “Now and Then,” created using recordings spanning over four decades and made possible with the help of AI. The song features a recording of the late John Lennon playing piano and singing at his home in New York in 1979. AI was used to extract usable sections from the noisy tape, which were then combined with guitar tracks from George Harrison, and new recordings from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. This single will be released on 2nd November, along with “Love Me Do” as a B-side.
The creation of “Now and Then” involved the use of AI by engineers at WingNut Films, known for their work on the Lord of the Rings franchise. They worked on 60 hours of recording captured by a single microphone, using AI to separate dialogue from background noises. The team developed powerful AI to remove all background noise and isolate the sound of each instrument played in the band.
This transparent use of AI in music production, approved by living members of the band, raises interesting questions about the impact of AI on the creative job market and ownership rights for artists. Jess Aslan at Goldsmiths, University of London, highlights concerns about generative AI impacting the creative job market and bypassing copyright laws.
Insight: The use of AI to restore and complete a Beatles song creates a fascinating intersection of music, technology, and ethics. The transparent use of AI in this instance provides a unique insight into the potential advantages and pitfalls of AI in the music industry. The concerns raised regarding creative job markets and ownership rights in the context of AI usage in music production also raise thought-provoking questions about the future of music creation.
