ABBA‘s Björn Ulvaeus has revealed he’s writing a brand new musical utilizing AI, which he believes is “such a terrific software”.
The songwriter mentioned the venture throughout a chat at London’s version of SXSW at the moment (June 4), which is going down throughout Shoreditch this week. He additionally famous that he was “three quarters” of the way in which via writing the follow-up to the Swedish legends’ hologram-based ‘ABBA Voyage’ live performance collection.
“It’s such a terrific software. It’s like having one other songwriter within the room with an enormous reference body,” he mentioned. “It’s actually an extension of your thoughts. You have got entry to issues that you simply didn’t consider earlier than.”
Ulvaeus additionally mentioned the expertise’s present limitations, saying that it’s “awful at [writing a whole song]” and “very unhealthy at lyrics.” He mentioned he believed its most helpful utility was to assist artists to beat author’s block.
“You’ll be able to immediate a lyric you’ve gotten written about one thing, and also you’re caught perhaps, and also you need this tune to be in a sure fashion,” he defined. “You’ll be able to ask it, how would you prolong? The place would you go from right here? It often comes out with rubbish, however typically there’s something in it that provides you one other concept.”
Beforehand, Ulvaeus warned of the “existential problem” AI introduced to the music trade.
In 2023, his foreword to a report regarding royalty collections within the period learn: “This yr’s outcomes present that the collective administration system, regardless of all the large challenges it faces in adapting to digital, continues to be sturdy and efficient. CMOs (collective administration organisations) have the backs of the creators they serve and are actually delivering more cash to extra creators than ever earlier than.
Ulvaeus is the president of CISAC, a non-profit organisation that represents songwriters and composers all over the world, gathering and paying royalties to its members whose music has been utilized in broadcasts, live shows, bars and on streaming providers. The organisation has produced stories prior to now on the problems concerning AI use in music. Most lately, certainly one of their research steered that music creators might lose almost 1 / 4 of their revenue to AI by 2028.
In the meantime, ABBA has simply celebrated the third anniversary of their ‘Voyage’ present by introducing new songs to the setlist and internet hosting a VIP celebration that noticed a particular efficiency from Benny Andersson, Elbow‘s Man Garvey and Elvis Costello.
