David Hollingworth & Daniel Croft 
A booking agent & music promoter has apologised for booking an artist using material generated by artificial intelligence after an outcry from another Sydney performer booked into the same lineup.
Aidan Sammut, who played in one of four bands at an event at the Bootleggers venue at popular Inner West pub, Kelly’s on Kind, told Cyber Daily that it was immediately obvious that the act in question, Afro Charles, was largely powered by AI content.
“We knew it was AI from looking at the account before the performance, however the performance specifically had an AI vocalist singing alongside the performer, which was pretty obvious,” Sammut said.
“The lyrical content kinda gave it away, too. We didn't stay very long, walking out after about 2 songs.”
Sammut took to social media to draw attention to the booking and warn of the potential harm AI content could cause small bands and independent artists
“I think while the damage is small at the moment, it has the potential to be disastrous, as bands who are already finding it increasingly hard to compete against other (less expensive) entertainment like DJs and slot machines get pushed out even more in favour of cheap, AI-backed performers,” Sammut said.
As commenters joined in to express their displeasure with the booking company, Good Intent’s Rob Carroll responded to the furore.
“I’ll take full responsibility. I didn’t look at this particular artist’s socials, and their representative’s communication used wording consistent with genuine artists,” Carroll said in a post to Instagram.
According to Carroll, Good Intent was told by another booking agency the artist in question was a “producer” who used “live vocals” in their live performances.
“I hadn’t seen them live, but now looking at their socials, their content is clearly and blatantly AI,” Carroll said.
“Good Intent and Bootleggers have never knowingly, and will never, book people who use AI to generate music.”
Carroll said Good Intent will review its artist vetting processes and make a donation to music industry charity Support Act.
Australian artists are becoming increasingly vocal regarding AI, particularly in relation to AI companies using their content – books, music, and other artistic material – to train large language models.
Paul Dempsey, lead singer of Australian band Something for Kate, has urged the government to protect local artists at a time when AI-generated music is swamping music streaming services.
“I’ve raised this with members of the current government because I think people deserve to know – in the same way they want to know what’s inside many of the things they consume or wear,” Dempsey told the AFR.
“People crave the sound of someone singing out their experience and their emotions. AI might mimic that, but the minute someone finds it’s not a human, they’re going to go, ‘yuck, not interested’. Let’s hope so anyway.”
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