The 10 Biggest AI Music Stories of 2024: Lawsuits, ELVIS Act, ‘BBL Drizzy’ & More

Well, it’s the end of 2024, and I’m happy to report we haven’t all been replaced by robots…yet!

Still, it’s been an eventful year in the emerging sector of AI music. And who would have thought Drake’s name would come up so often? From the Toronto rapper using AI to deepfake Tupac’s voice on a Kendrick Lamar diss track to “BBL Drizzy” becoming the first AI-generated song to receive a sample clearance, he’s had a greater impact on the conversation around AI music than almost anyone, dating all the way back to Ghostwriter’s “Heart On My Sleeve” last year. 

Outside of the Drake of it all, AI also found its way into the UMG TikTok licensing feud, the first-ever streaming fraud case, and even into “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree,” which was translated into Spanish using AI. Randy Travis “got his voice back,” Suno and Udio got sued by the majors, and regulations, like the ELVIS Act in Tennessee, finally laid out some ground rules. 

Amidst all that, adoption for AI music tools remains low, and I must admit I find myself wondering how long this massive wave of startups can last. If fewer people are signing up than anticipated — and even fewer than that are willing to pay a subscription fee — are these companies burning too much cash to be sustainable? 

As 2025 approaches, we will likely see some thinning out of this market — a common part of the lifecycle of new technology — and we will continue to see companies pivoting from their original business models and offerings to try to fit the market as it develops. In the world of tech, one thing always remains the same: Change is constant.