AI-composed single debuts by Japanese band AKB48, overtaking human-written track in fan preference voting
In a groundbreaking move for the music industry, Japanese girl band AKB48 has released a single created using AI. The techno-pop track, titled "Omoide Scroll / Memory Scroll," was developed by AI Akimoto, trained on the lyrics and public statements of Yasushi Akimoto, the group's founder and songwriter.
The single, which is about heartbreak in the smartphone era, has been met with excitement from fans. A majority of social media comments expressed enthusiasm about the release, with one fan commenting that the AI-generated song seems like it will sell better and has something that recent Akimoto songs have been missing.
In a songwriting competition, "Omoide Scroll / Memory Scroll" received 14,225 votes out of a total 24,760, outperforming a rival song written by J-pop producer Yasushi Akimoto. The winner of the showdown was the AI-generated song.
Yasushi Akimoto himself expressed willingness to be inspired by the AI, stating, "If the AI can write a better song, that would make me happy. I want to see it and think, 'I never thought of that! It'll help us decide which direction the next AKB ought to head in." However, after the result, he expressed disappointment, saying, "How am I supposed to react to this? It's disappointing, I wrote it with all my effort."
The AI stated, "AI is good at deriving the 'greatest common denominator' from past data. Perhaps by losing, the real me was trying to show something new."
AKB48, the world's largest pop group with more than 120 members, has been a commercial success. The members, who are split into teams to rotate performances and are in their teens to mid-20s, are commercial darlings, selling various products like chocolate, cell phones, and appearing in videos for the Japanese military and promoting government bonds.
The group has also expanded internationally, with sister groups in Shanghai, Jakarta, and Manila. AKB48 also has its own manga series and video games.
AKB48's official X account thanked viewers for watching the Nippon TV special program 'Yasushi Akimoto vs. AKB48 New Song Showdown.' Prior to the result, Akimoto had suggested that he would be open to being inspired by the AI.
In a surprising turn of events, when a member "graduates," they are replaced by trainees. This dynamic continues as the group evolves, embracing new talent and styles. Akimoto's own song, "Cecil," received 10,535 votes in the competition.
This AI-generated single marks a significant step forward in the integration of AI in the music industry, and it will be interesting to see how this development influences future music productions.
