“Not sufficient music individuals are truly listening to this Velvet Sunset state of affairs. The way forward for streaming providers is about to be so bleak.”

A psych-rock band referred to as The Velvet Sunset has someway racked up over 500,000 Spotify listeners in lower than one month,  already releasing two full albums, with a 3rd one on the way in which in July.

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However right here’s the catch—there’s a very good probability the band isn’t actual in any respect.

Who’s The Velvet Sunset?

Even at first look, all the pieces about The Velvet Sunset feels off. The band’s promo pictures posted to an Instagram account by the identical identify have that uncanny, yellow, smoothed-over look most of us have discovered to acknowledge in AI-generated pictures.

What’s extra, their bio introduces the members with names like “Gabe Farrow, vocalist and mellotron sorcerer,” and “Milo Rains, bassist-synth alchemist.” But not a single hint of those folks exists on-line. No interviews, no social media, no efficiency movies.

Nonetheless, their music is in all places. Not solely is it accessible on Spotify, but additionally on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer. On Deezer, there’s no less than a small disclaimer if you happen to click on on considered one of their albums. It reads, “Some tracks on this album could have been created utilizing synthetic intelligence.”

The Velvet Sunset even has an account on X, the place the bio insists: “Sure, We Are A Actual Band & We By no means Use AI.”

Is the music business heading within the generative AI route?

The band’s sudden rise comes simply weeks after music producer Timbaland launched an AI label referred to as Stage Zero and signed an AI artist named TaTa, constructed utilizing Suno AI. 

This transfer was closely criticized by the general public, with followers accusing him of overlooking actual, younger expertise.

Now, the truth that an AI-generated band took off so rapidly—and not using a single human hooked up—solely provides gas to the controversy.

Increasingly followers are questioning if their favourite playlists are quietly filling up with AI tracks, and whether or not it’s even potential to keep away from them anymore.

Individuals are listening—however not everybody’s pleased about it

For some listeners, The Velvet Sunset got here out of nowhere. Others didn’t even understand the band is likely to be AI-generated till after listening to the music.

“I’m ashamed to say final week I listened to Floating on Echoes. It was in my Uncover Weekly on Spotify and it sounded OK. Spotify can’t be selling this over precise up-and-coming artists, it’s [expletive],” one individual commented on a publish shared to r/indieheads.

“What is admittedly [expletive] up is that I used to be listening to a playlist referred to as Songs From Vietnam Warfare Time or one thing like that on Spotify for my dad that simply handed, and their tune was in it,” one other person shared on the identical publish. “I clicked on them in disbelief… I’ve listened to basic rock my complete life. Was about to ask a good friend in the event that they heard of them and stumbled on the AI articles. That is so tousled, we’re doomed.”

Over on X, folks had comparable ideas. 

“Not sufficient music individuals are truly listening to this Velvet Sunset state of affairs. The way forward for streaming providers is about to be so bleak,” one person mentioned.

“I’m satisfied the entire ‘Velvet Sunset is an AI band’ factor is only a advertising psyop. No matter if they’re or aren’t human,” mentioned one other.

“Should you take pleasure in The Velvet Sunset, please get assist. There’s loads of bands that truly sound good and aren’t AI generated, however REAL folks with a love and keenness for music,” wrote a 3rd.

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