The Velvet Sundown Controversy: AI-Generated Band Sparks Debate in Music Industry

"Indie Band" Says Claims Their Music Is AI-Generated Is a Hoax, Then Admits It's Actually AI-Generated

After an "indie rock band" called The Velvet Sundown refused to admit last week that its output was a lazy amalgamation of AI-generated slop, the outfit is now singing a dramatically different tune. As Rolling Stone reports, the band's Spotify bio has been revised to clarify that it's a "synthetic music project" and an "ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI." Adding to the confusion, last week the magazine talked to a man identifying himself as the project's "spokesperson," who called himself Andrew Frelon but turned out to be an impostor. "It's marketing," he said, referring to The Velvet Sundown as an "art hoax" and "trolling." Then, the story got even more confusing when a separate account that claimed to be behind the band tried to distance itself from Fremon's claims. "We have no affiliation with this individual, nor any evidence confirming their identity or existence," the account wrote. To be clear, it didn't take much reading between the lines to realize everything related to the band, from blatantly AI-generated images on their Instagram to insipid and uninspired lyrics in their music, was the product of an algorithm. So the latest update from the band's purported social media channels -- that it's a "mirror" and "ongoing artistic provocation" that lives somewhere between "human" and "machine" -- isn't exactly a major revelation. But whether the viral stunt will kickstart a meaningful conversation surrounding the use of AI in the music industry remains dubious at best. If anything, The Velvet Sundown highlighted glaring injustices in how music streaming services like Spotify remunerate human artists. The fictitious troupe amassed just shy of 1,000,000 monthly listeners on the platform -- while real artists continue to struggle for virtually any recognition at all.

Fake AI band scandal: The Velvet Sundown controversy explained

They're blowing up right now, racking up more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify - which is pretty good going for a group that formed less than two months ago. What's also impressive is that the prolific four-piece psych-rock outfit have already released two albums on their "Verified Artist" profile: 'Floating On Echoes' and 'Dust And Silence', which were dropped on 5 and 20 June respectively. There are no signs of slowing down, as their new collection of "cinematic alt-pop and dreamy analogue soul" is out soon, with their third opus titled 'Paper Sun Rebellion' coming out on 14 July. Vocalist and "mellotron sorcerer" Gabe Farrow, guitarist Lennie West, "bassist-synth alchemist" Milo Rains and "free-spirited percussionist" Orion 'Rio' Del Mar must be thrilled with their sudden rise in popularity. At least they would be... if they were capable of human emotion. Yep, The Velvet Sundown don't exist. Not really. Questions regarding the band's legitimacy came after Reddit users began searching for background information on the band, after their Discover Weekly playlists had been flooded with The Velvet Sundown songs. In case you were wondering, they sound... bland. And the insipid lyrical content doesn't help: "Boots in the mud, sky burning red / Voices of reason lost in our heads / Radio hums while the silence screams / Truth slips away in American dreams." Deep. Doubts persisted when the band created an Instagram account late June - an account which features yellow-tinted images of them looking like eerily airbrushed trustfund kids who didn't want to work for daddy's company and instead decided to become cookiecutter hipsters who pester you at music festivals by insisting that no musical decade will ever top the 70s. Further suspicions were raised by the band's Spotify "Verified Artist" bio: "There's something quietly spellbinding about The Velvet Sundown. You don't just listen to them, you drift into them. Their music doesn't shout for your attention; it seeps in slowly, like a scent that suddenly takes you back somewhere you didn't expect." If you just felt your spleen drafting a resignation letter because of all your violent cringing, you're only human. Unlike The Velvet Sundown. Faced with growing criticism, the band defended themselves on their X account Velvet Sundown (The Real Band Not The AI Band): "Absolutely crazy that so-called 'journalists' keep pushing the lazy, baseless theory that The Velvet Sundown is 'AI-generated' with zero evidence." "Not a single one of these 'writers' has reached out, visited a show, or listened beyond the Spotify algorithm." The band doubled down by writing: "This is not a joke. This is our music, written in long, sweaty nights in a cramped bungalow in California with real instruments, real minds, and real soul. Every chord, every lyric, every mistake - HUMAN." It's worth mentioning that the description attached to their X handle reads: "Just A Bunch of Very Real Dudes In A Totally Real Band Keeping It Extremely Real! No, We Never Use AI!" The rockers doth protest too much? Handily, Spotify - which allows AI-generated music and does not require disclosure that the technology has been used - was not responding to any requests for a comment. Silence for some, debunking for others, as the streaming platform's competitor Deezer wasted no time in flagging the band's album 'Dust And Silence' as being "100% generated by AI." Deezer reiterated its commitment to not accepting content generated entirely by AI. It did not say it was against the use of AI as an aid to creation, but issued a press release saying: "In order to protect artists' remuneration and guarantee an optimal user experience, Deezer currently excludes 100% AI tracks from its algorithmic and editorial recommendations." The platform also shared an alarming figure: nearly 20% of music uploaded to their platform has been artificially created. That number represents a near-doubling in three months. And it's only going to get worse. As the Swedish proverb goes: "What is hidden in the snow will come forth in the thaw." In a new revision to their Spotify bio, The Velvet Sundown came clean and confirmed what had gradually seemed obvious: the band had lied, and their music was, in fact, AI-generated. "The Velvet Sundown is a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence," the band bio now reads. "This isn't a trick -- it's a mirror. An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI." The Spotify bio goes on to say: "All characters, stories, music, voices and lyrics are original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools employed as creative instruments. Any resemblance to actual places, events or persons - living or deceased - is purely coincidental and unintentional." It concludes: "Not quite human. Not quite machine. The Velvet Sundown lives somewhere in between." Jokes apparently happen in that somewhere in between space, as the band posted on X: "They said we weren't real. Maybe you're not real either." Hilarious. This "ongoing artistic provocation" is not as clever as it thinks it is. It comes during a difficult period in the music industry, where AI-generated music is increasingly polluting listening platforms. A report published last December in Harper's Magazine alleged Spotify is supplementing playlists with "ghost artists" to decrease royalty payouts. These claims were highlighted in Liz Pelly's investigative book "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist." In her book, published by Hodder & Stoughton, the journalist critically examines Spotify's practices and explains that the platform has no qualms when it comes to slipping music generated by fake AI-generated 'artists' into popular playlists. A separate study also released last December estimated that without intervention from policymakers, people working in music are likely to lose more than 20 per cent of their income to AI over the next four years. Conversely, AI developers in the music industry are set to gain €4bn - up from €0.1bn in 2023. These figures come from the first global economic study examining the impact of AI on human creativity, courtesy of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). Many artists are struggling to find fair remuneration in this new digital ecosystem, and have been speaking out against the existential threat AI poses. To The Velvet Sundown - and by extension Spotify - from a "so-called journalist": Your aesthetically soulless "synthetic music project" is a prime example of autocratic tech bros seeking to reduce human creation to algorithms designed to eradicate art. It highlights the artistically barren desire to generate more money, as well as the hypocrisy of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek - who once said the platform "does not download, create or upload any content, whether generated by artificial intelligence or otherwise." Provocations are all well and good; but when they're done at a time when artists are expressing real, legitimate concerns over the ubiquity of AI in a tech-dominated world and the use of their content in the training of AI tools, the stunt comes off as tone-deaf. Worse, morally shameless. None of this means that AI can't be used by those who wish to utilise it as a tool - provided that the use is signaled, thereby allowing listeners to make informed decisions, protect their online information, and lessen their already-prevalent fears of losing control of AI. Or, to put it a way that The Velvet Sundown would understand: regulatory measures need to be put in place so that "voices of reason AREN'T lost in our heads". Take people for morons that just consume stuff by minimizing the unquantifiable beauty of human expression, and you'll find yourself justly haemorrhaging subscribers. The only thing that The Velvet Sundown experiment has achieved, sadly, is disproving the words of "Don Quixote" writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who wrote: "Where there's music there can be no evil."

AI Band Shocks the World : The Velvet Sundown's Viral Rise

What if your favorite indie band didn't exist -- at least, not in the way you think? Imagine discovering a playlist gem, only to learn it was entirely crafted by artificial intelligence. That's the story of "The Velvet Sundown," a viral AI-generated band that's rewriting the rules of music creation and distribution. With tracks that feel as authentic and emotionally resonant as human-made hits, this project challenges our understanding of creativity and artistry in the digital age. As AI tools become more sophisticated, they're not just assisting musicians -- they're becoming the musicians, raising questions about the future of music itself. Matt Wolfe uncovers how AI is transforming every stage of the music-making process, from crafting melodies to designing album art and reaching global audiences. You'll discover the tools and strategies behind "The Velvet Sundown's" success, learn how AI-generated music can rival traditional artistry, and consider the ethical dilemmas posed by this technological leap. Whether you're an artist curious about AI's potential or a listener intrigued by its impact, this report offers a glimpse into a future where creativity and code collide. How will this shift reshape the way we connect with music -- and the people (or machines) behind it? AI tools are transforming the way music is created, breaking down traditional barriers and making the process more accessible. Platforms like Suno.com empower users to generate music in customizable styles, complete with unique personas and tailored lyrics. These tools allow creators to produce songs that resonate with specific audiences, bypassing many of the challenges associated with traditional songwriting and production. For example, "The Velvet Sundown" used AI to craft tracks that emulated the sound of popular indie bands. The result was music that felt authentic and emotionally engaging, despite being entirely machine-generated. This demonstrates how AI can replicate human creativity while offering limitless opportunities for experimentation. By using these tools, you can create music that aligns with your artistic vision and appeals to diverse audiences. AI is not only transforming music creation but also redefining how bands establish their visual identity. Tools like ChatGPT's image generation models enable you to design consistent and compelling visuals for social media, album covers, and promotional campaigns. For "The Velvet Sundown," AI-generated imagery was instrumental in creating a cohesive aesthetic that resonated with fans and reinforced the band's identity. By using AI to develop character visuals and promotional materials, you can ensure your band maintains a unified and professional brand image across all platforms. This approach simplifies the branding process, allowing you to focus on other creative endeavors while making sure your band stands out in a competitive market. A strong, visually appealing brand can significantly enhance your band's appeal and help you connect with your target audience. Discover other guides from our vast content that could be of interest on AI-generated music. The distribution of AI-generated music has become more seamless than ever, thanks to platforms like DistroKid. These services allow you to upload your tracks to Spotify and other streaming platforms, making sure your music reaches a global audience. Once on Spotify, your songs can benefit from advanced recommendation algorithms that introduce your music to listeners based on their preferences. "The Velvet Sundown" effectively used these algorithms to gain visibility among fans of similar genres. By strategically releasing singles and albums, the band quickly amassed streams and downloads, demonstrating that AI-generated music can compete with traditional artists in the digital age. With the right distribution strategy, you can maximize your music's reach and impact, using AI to connect with listeners worldwide. The viral success of "The Velvet Sundown" underscores the power of AI in amplifying music promotion. Spotify's recommendation algorithms played a crucial role in introducing the band's music to new listeners, driving rapid growth in popularity. Additionally, the band's consistent branding and high-quality visuals helped it stand out in a crowded marketplace. This success highlights the potential of AI-generated music to capture attention and resonate with audiences, even in a highly competitive landscape. By effectively combining AI tools with strategic promotion, you can create music that not only reaches listeners but also leaves a lasting impression. The key lies in understanding how to use AI to enhance both the creative and promotional aspects of your music. While AI-generated music offers exciting opportunities, it also raises important ethical and industry-related questions. Critics argue that the rise of AI-generated music could devalue human artistry, as machine-created songs flood streaming platforms. There is also concern that companies like Spotify might use AI to produce music internally, potentially reducing royalty payouts to human artists. As a listener, you may wonder whether AI-generated music can truly replicate the emotional depth and authenticity of human-created songs. These concerns highlight the need for ongoing discussions about the role of AI in the music industry and its impact on artists, audiences, and the value of creativity. Balancing innovation with ethical considerations will be essential as AI continues to shape the future of music. The success of "The Velvet Sundown" represents a pivotal moment in the music industry, as AI-generated content becomes increasingly mainstream. Younger, tech-savvy generations are likely to embrace this trend, reshaping how music is created, consumed, and valued. For artists and creators, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities, requiring them to adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape where technology and creativity intersect. As AI technology advances, its influence on music will only grow. By understanding the tools, strategies, and implications of AI-generated music, you can stay ahead of the curve and explore new possibilities for artistic expression. Whether you are an artist, producer, or listener, the integration of AI into music offers a unique opportunity to redefine creativity and innovation in the digital age.