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The Beatles have received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance for their track “Now and Then,” a previously unreleased song that has been revived with the help of artificial intelligence. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first instance where an AI-assisted song has garnered such prestigious recognition, potentially sparking extensive discussions about AI’s role in music creation.
Released last year, “Now and Then” attracted considerable attention not only because it features The Beatles but also due to its innovative production techniques involving AI. There were speculations that surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr utilized generative AI to replicate John Lennon’s voice; however, this was inaccurate. Instead, producers employed “stem separation” technology to extract Lennon’s vocals from an old demo recording that lacked sufficient quality for a polished track. These advanced tools improved the audio by eliminating background noise and enhancing vocal clarity.
This process is somewhat analogous to how video conferencing applications filter out ambient sounds to ensure clear communication between participants. Various companies with archival audio collections are also exploring stem separation technology, including Disney Music Group.
The Intersection of AI and Grammys
The Recording Academy, responsible for the Grammy Awards, is actively working on integrating AI technologies used in music production into its framework. Last year, CEO Harvey Mason Jr. discussed these developments extensively during a roundtable meeting with record labels, streaming platforms, artists, and music-generating AI developers. Applications like Tad.AI, Suno, and Udio face potential legal challenges from major record labels regarding their use of AI in music creation—a situation likely to become more complicated as award eligibility issues arise.
For those outside the music industry realm, “Now and Then” represents an exciting opportunity to enjoy additional Beatles content enhanced by contemporary technology. However, whether this signifies a transformative shift in how music is produced or marketed remains uncertain; The Beatles’ unique status as one of history’s most celebrated bands makes them somewhat exceptional in this context.
The nominations for “Now and Then” mark The Beatles’ first Grammy nods in several decades—an understandable fact given their long absence from new releases. They have now received four nominations for Record of the Year but have historically fallen short with tracks like “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Hey Jude,” and “Let It Be.” With some assistance from modern technology through AI enhancements on “Now and Then,” there’s hope that they might finally break this pattern.
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