Charley Crockett Says The Music Business Is Behind Surge In AI-Generated Songs: “No Count Business Men Cutting Out Artists”

Who is behind the recent surge of AI generated country music? Charley Crockett believes it’s the country music business itself.

It was last week when a music industry nightmare played out in real time. Last weekend, Whiskey Riff reported that the top song on Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart was a track titled “Walk My Walk,” by an artist called Breaking Rust, and why it should infuriate us all, both fans and artists alike. For those that don’t know, Breaking Rust is not only a terrible name for an artist… it’s not even a real artist at all.

The song itself is actually credited to someone named Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, who has seemingly also created another “artist” called Defbeatsai, which posts nothing but raunchy AI-generated songs. At least when it comes to the Instagram page for Defbeatsai, it’s disclosed that the songs are AI-generated (I mean, AI is in the name of the artist). When it comes to the social media for Breaking Rust, that “artist” is described as “Outlaw Country” and “Soul Music for Us.” There’s no mention that Breaking Rust’s music has been created entirely by AI, and this song in particular is the one that rocketed to the top of the digital sales chart.

It became one of the top stories in music this past week, with more AI acts jumping up the Billboard Country Digital Songs Sales Chart, and our own Aaron Ryan was invited to discuss the travesty with NPR. Now, let’s remember… in the age of streaming, digital sales is is a relatively small part of the music industry, and you’re certainly not gonna hear Breaking Rust on country radio (they sound more like soulful, southern rock anyways). But that’s not the point is it? Breaking Rust has 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and while it’s unclear if there is any bot activity going on there, that’s A LOT of monthly listeners. Pretty scary stuff, eh?

And it’s something that’s got everyone in the country music industry talking. Even country music star, Charley Crockett, gave his two cents on the matter (can we still say two cents if they aren’t making pennies anymore?), and posted a picture with a long caption explaining his theory on who is behind the AI-generated music.

The most likely explanation is that someone off in another country is churning these songs out and posting them online as if they are actual artists, and then potentially running bot farms to pump up listens. I’m sure that is happening in some capacity, and Spotify also claims they’re actively working against artificial listens activity, but what they need to do is immediately slap AI-generated music with an “AI-Generated” badge… just for transparency’s sake. Same with Billboard when it comes to their charting. We reached out to Billboard for comment and haven’t heard back yet.

The Surge Of AI Music An Inside Job?

Charley Crockett thinks it could all actually be an inside job, and that business men in the music industry are working to cut out artists:

Here’s what he said about the matter:

“AI ain’t nothin but a business man. They’ve been playing money guitar out here for years which ain’t done nothin but speed up the revolution. I never claimed to be more authentic than anybody else, only defended myself against those who felt threatened by my existence in this game. That’s a fact jack. You can’t stop what’s coming. And the more you try the faster it comes.”

So basically, Crockett thinks some music executives could be the one cranking these songs out. And hey, it makes sense… I’m sure some industry executives would love to profit off an artist they don’t have to pay for. Or as much for… but it’s already happening. AI artist, Xania Monet, who is made by AI music creator, I’m Oliver, on the platform Suno, signed a $3 million dollar record deal with Hallwood Media.

All that being said, the “Son of Davy” went on to compare the situation to street performers and the thought that they’d go extinct. He doesn’t think actual, real artists will go into that dark night without a fight. But Crockett does see the concern of it all, and thinks it’s just another way that the music business is trying to ruin the music itself:

“I drive around Austin and it’s AI this and AI that. Always wondered why there was a bite missing out of the apple on my iPhone. These avatars are just no count business men cutting out artists. But that’s happening to Americans in every part of our lives.

I remember reading this fancy article once about how street performers would become extinct within just a few years because modern society didn’t need us. It was written in 1960. I say come on with it. Country music ain’t what it used to be but nothin is. One day they’ll be talking about what we did right now. Y’all lemme know when AI goes to jail.”

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The post Charley Crockett Says The Music Business Is Behind Surge In AI-Generated Songs: “No Count Business Men Cutting Out Artists” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.