AI-created musician inks multimillion-dollar record contract, escalates on Billboard charts
In a surprising turn of events, Telisha "Nikki" Jones, a designer from Olive Branch, Mississippi, has made waves in the music industry with her AI-created R&B artist, Xania Monet.
Jones, who grew up singing in church, admits she may not have landed a record deal on her own. However, her creativity and knack for poetry have led her to the forefront of a new wave in the music industry.
Xania Monet, the AI artist birthed by Jones, made a significant impact in less than a year. Her debut single, "How Was I Supposed to Know," reached No. 1 on R&B Digital Song Sales and has accumulated 9.8 million U.S. streams. This feat caught the attention of record labels, leading to a bidding war that reached as high as $3 million. In the end, Hallwood Media, led by former Interscope exec Neil Jacobson, closed a multimillion-dollar deal.
Jacobson's company also signed another Suno-born act, imoliver, whose breakout track "Stone" amassed millions of streams. Suno, the platform behind Xania's sound, is currently embroiled in lawsuits over copyright infringement by major record labels.
Xania's music is a unique blend of Jones' words, AI-generated vocals, and sometimes live elements. Her lyrics primarily draw from her own life and those of her friends and community. Despite the AI-generated vocals, Romel Murphy, Xania's manager, considers Xania's music as "real music" and "real R&B."
The industry seems to be paying attention to the rise of AI artists in music. Xania's next test is a live performance, with plans already in motion for her first show. However, the identity of who will accompany Xania Monet during her performances remains a mystery, as Xania has declined to sing during a recent business meeting with label executives and has not shown her face in public.
Xania's music charted on Billboard's Emerging Artists list at No. 25 and on Hot Gospel Songs at No. 21. The existential debate persists: is the artist behind Xania Monet Telisha "Nikki" Jones or her AI avatar? Regardless, one thing is certain - the music industry is experiencing a shift, with labels experimenting with AI creators much like they did with autotune or hologram tours.
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