Better than the real thing? 'Hoax' band sparks debate over AI-generated music

They went viral, amassing more than 1m streams on Spotify in a matter of weeks, but it later emerged that the hot new band the Velvet Sundown were generated through AI – right down to their music, promotional images and backstory.

- Lanre Bakare

The episode has triggered a debate about authenticity, with music industry insiders saying streaming sites should be legally obliged to tag music that is created by AI-generated acts so consumers can make informed decisions about what they are listening to.

Initially, the "band", described as "a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction", denied they were an AI creation, and released two albums in June called Floating on Echoes and Dust and Silence, which were similar to the country folk of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Things became more complicated when someone describing himself as an "adjunct" member told reporters that the Velvet Sundown had used the generative AI platform Suno in the creation of their songs, and that the project was an "art hoax".

The band's official social media channels denied this and said the group's identity was being "hijacked", before releasing a statement confirming that the group was an AI creation and was "Not quite human. Not quite machine" but living "somewhere in between".