A new music technology company called Artist Included has launched in Los Angeles, aiming to let artists re-record classic tracks using AI-assisted vocal technology.<\/p>\n
The company claims that it is \u201ccreating a new model for legendary artists to reimagine classic recordings and create new, artist-owned masters for today\u2019s market\u201d.<\/p>\n
Artist Included was founded by entrepreneur Paul \u201cPK\u201d Kemsley,\u00a0who also manages Boy George,\u00a0and entertainment attorney and film producer Jeremy Rosen.<\/p>\n
To mark the launch, Artist Included is releasing a new recording of Culture Club\u2018s Karma Chameleon featuring Boy George, in partnership with BMG<\/a>, timed to coincide with the singer\u2019s 65th birthday on Sunday (June 14).<\/p>\n Seed investors include Mike Walsh, a founding partner of Structure Capital and seed investor in Uber and Salesforce; Doug Raetz, Co-President of Cresset Sports and Entertainment; and Red Light Management, one of the world\u2019s largest independent artist management companies.<\/p>\n Artist Included said the release is not a synthetic AI recording.<\/p>\n Boy George performed the new vocal in the studio, with what the company describes as \u201cartist-approved and ethical technology\u201d used to support the final recording \u2013 \u201cnot replace the artist.\u201d<\/p>\n It is the first of what the company says will be many planned releases with artists from the 1960s through the 2000s, as Artist Included works with artists to create new, artist-owned masters and unlock commercial opportunities across streaming, sync, film, TV, advertising, gaming, brand partnerships, vinyl releases, direct-to-fan campaigns, foreign-language versions, remixes, and other formats.<\/p>\n \u201cUsed responsibly, AI can become one of the most powerful creative tools the music industry has ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul \u201cPK\u201d Kemsley<\/p>\n \u201cFor decades, artists created the soundtrack to our lives while much of the long-term value moved away from the original creators,\u201d said Kemsley, Co-Founder and CEO of Artist Included.<\/p>\n \u201cArtist Included was built to help reverse that dynamic.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not about replacing artists or exploiting old catalogs \u2013 it is about helping artists create new ones. Used responsibly, AI can become one of the most powerful creative tools the music industry has ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n Rosen, Co-Founder of Artist Included, added: \u201cThe future of AI in music must put artists at the center \u2013 creatively, ethically, and economically.<\/p>\n \u201cArtist Included is building a model where artists control and participate directly in the future value created from their music, voice, brand, and legacy.<\/p>\n \u201cAll ego aside, we are shifting the narrative from piracy to partnership; a timely AI reframe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe future of AI in music must put artists at the center \u2013 creatively, ethically, and economically.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeremy Rosen<\/p>\n Boy George, who collaborated with the company on the launch release, said: \u201cRevisiting Karma Chameleon in this way was emotional and creatively inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRevisiting Karma Chameleon in this way was emotional and creatively inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n Boy George<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal was never to replace the original \u2013 it was to celebrate it and let the song keep evolving for new audiences,\u201d Boy George added.<\/p>\n Artist Included has appointed Robert Earl, founder of Planet Hollywood, as Chairman of the Board.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s technology partner, Syntiant, developed the vocal AI platform used in its artist-approved audio processing. Syntiant was co-founded by Kurt Busch, who also serves as a Board Member of Artist Included.<\/p>\n The launch arrives at a moment of intensifying debate within the music industry over AI, ownership, and the future economics of music.<\/p>\n In February, Spotify<\/a> Co-CEO Gustav S\u00f6derstr\u00f6m described AI-generated \u201cderivatives\u201d of existing music as an \u201cuntapped opportunity for artists to make money off of their existing IP\u201d<\/a> \u2013 while stressing that Spotify would only build such features \u201cwith artists\u2019 support, not around them.\u201d<\/p>\n Last month, Spotify\u00a0and\u00a0Universal Music Group<\/a>\u00a0announced<\/a> licensing agreements enabling fans to create AI-powered covers and remixes of songs from participating artists and songwriters.<\/p>\n