The advancement of AI requires governments, companies, and associations to quickly address regulation.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way music is produced, allowing artists to create complete tracks alone in minutes, or even seconds. However, copyright legislation and royalty systems have not kept pace, leaving fundamental questions, such as who counts as the author and who is remunerated, unresolved.
What once required teams of musicians, producers, and engineers can now be accomplished on a single laptop using tools that generate composition, instrumentation, melodies, and even vocals from simple text prompts.
The singer PARK SAE BYUL used the AI music program SUNO to create her album “BREATH: STILL” in September. The platform allows users to generate songs from simple instructions, such as “Make a song in the style of a K-pop boys band.”
“If I input piano accompaniment, a melody, and lyrics, Suno produces a corresponding backing track. It separates instruments like guitar and drums on different tracks so I can combine the ones I prefer and complete the song,” said PARK SAE BYUL.
“Before, I would bring in a guitarist to record multiple takes, a long and costly process. You cannot ask someone to play the same chord 100 times, but AI can simulate performances until it matches exactly what I want. It allows me to achieve the sound I initially imagined.”
As AI accelerates production, the role of musicians is also changing.
The composer BAE YOUNG GOON, who runs the YouTube channel “DEULTTOKNO”, translated as “Songs That Make You Smarter”, uploaded nearly 200 songs this year alone.
“Suno does in one minute what used to take me 10 hours. My job now is to develop a concept for the lyrics and select productions. I’ve become more of a producer than a composer,” said BAE YOUNG GOON.
His channel generates between 4 and 7 million won (2,700 to 4,800 USD) per month.
“Because the Korea Music Copyright Association [KOMCA] does not allow copyright registration for songs created with AI, I earn money through YouTube ad revenue, not royalties,” added BAE YOUNG GOON.
AI-generated music is also being used more broadly. YouTubers and influencers, including MMA athlete CHOO SUNG HOON on his YouTube channel, use AI tracks as background music.
“Some cafés and gyms also use AI-generated songs to avoid copyright fees,” said an AI industry source.
AI voices and video synthesis are also entering the mainstream.
In November, the Kpop duo DEUX released a new song titled “Rise”, using an AI-generated voice modeled after the late KIM SUNG JAE. The song, written and produced by member LEE HYUN DO, was combined with video and vocal data trained from past performances of KIM SUNG JAE. The project was completed with the agreement of KIM SUNG JAE’s family.
Deep voice technology is also becoming more common in professional studios.
“Instead of hiring someone to record a demo, we now make AI sing on the guide track, saving time and money,” said a composer with more than ten years of experience.
While the music industry is rapidly adapting to AI, legal frameworks have lagged behind.
PARK SAE BYUL stated she received no royalty income for her latest album because it was created with AI.
“For now, KOMCA standards rely on the honesty of the composer. We need clear rules on what proportion of a song must be created by a human to qualify for copyright, and on how AI usage should be verified,” she said.
KIM JAE KOOK, president of the Korea Singer-Songwriter Association, warned that creators would suffer financial losses if legal responses to AI continue to lag.
“The longer we wait, the greater the harm to musicians,” he said.
Lawyers also believe compensation is needed for original works used to train AI.
“There are countless creators whose songs are used to train AI systems without their knowledge. AI companies must obtain music with clear licensing and compensation, and they must disclose the materials used. If prior authorization has not been obtained, rights holders should be able to seek retroactive compensation,” said KANG AE-RI, a copyright attorney.
KOMCA acknowledged the limits of the current system.
“Current copyright law only recognizes works that express human thoughts and emotions. Until standards are established, we have no choice but not to recognize AI-generated music. The legal framework must be quickly updated to define how AI music should be categorized and registered, and who is responsible for proving the source of training data,” said a KOMCA official.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: KOMCA,
