Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced a new bill on Wednesday aimed at safeguarding songwriters, performers, and other professionals in the music industry from potential threats posed by artificial intelligence.

Lee delivered the statement from the center of Nashville’s renowned RCA Studio A, a spot where iconic artists like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Charley Pride have all created music. The room was filled with influential figures from the music industry, songwriters, and legislators, all eager to celebrate the state’s vibrant musical past while also expressing concerns about the potential dangers of AI.

According to Governor Lee, Tennessee will be the first state to safeguard the voices of artists through this new legislation. They also hope that other states will follow this as a model.

The legislation comes as states across the country and federal lawmakers wrestle with the challenge of curbing the dangers of AI. The bill hasn’t been formally introduced inside the Tennessee Legislature and the text of the proposal has yet to be publicly distributed.

Lee stated his goal is to ensure that AI technology cannot imitate an artist’s voice without their permission. This task requires referencing one of the most renowned residents of the state: Elvis Presley.

Elvis Presley’s passing in 1977 triggered a heated and prolonged dispute over the unapproved usage of his name and image. Some argued that after a celebrity’s death, their name and likeness became part of the public domain.

In 1984, the Tennessee Legislature approved the Personal Rights Protection Act, guaranteeing that personality rights continue after death and can be transferred to others. The act declares that these rights are considered as property and can be freely transferred and licensed, and are not nullified upon the individual’s death.

The decision was widely viewed as crucial in safeguarding Presley’s fortune, but has since been commended for safeguarding the identities, images, and likenesses of all prominent personalities in Tennessee over the years.

The significance of this was also crucial in safeguarding names, pictures, and images as a form of property, rather than just a right of publicity. Currently, only two other states, New York and California, have comparable safeguards, providing a simpler path to pursue legal compensation.

Currently, no state has implemented measures to protect against the use of vocal likeness. As AI continues to pose a risk to various industries, there is a growing demand from artists and creatives for more robust safeguards against emerging AI technologies that generate images, music, videos, and written content.

According to four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter Jamie Moore, using a machine to replicate someone’s life or voice without their consent is simply wrong.

The ultimate objective is to guarantee that AI technology does not violate an artist’s rights by using their music or voice to generate a song without their consent. This was stated by Bart Herbison, the executive director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Additionally, advocating for fair compensation is also crucial.

According to Herbison, he witnessed significant progress in generative AI tools within a span of eight months – from writing clumsy songs in February to producing poignant and heartfelt pieces by October.

“It is quite terrifying what it is capable of now. It is the main topic of conversation in the writer’s rooms,” he stated.

More AI laws are anticipated to emerge in various states as legislative sessions resume this month. In California, a legislator has put forth a bill mandating the establishment of safety, privacy, and nondiscrimination guidelines for generative-AI tools and services. These guidelines would eventually be utilized as criteria for future state contracts. Additionally, a separate proposal has been introduced to establish a state-funded research center dedicated to studying the technology.

The U.S. Copyright Office is considering implementing changes to copyright laws due to generative AI. Additionally, a group of senators from both parties has proposed the No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications Act of 2024. This legislation aims to address the issue of AI deepfakes, voice clones, and other harmful forms of digital human impersonation. Supporters believe it will be effective in combatting these problems.

Source: wral.com