--- title: "Rejoice, Drake! AI Barred From Winning a Grammy" description: "The Recording Academy's CEO says that songs featuring AI contributions can be submitted for a Grammy, but only human creators can win." date: "2023-06-25" modified: "2023-06-25" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/ai-winning-grammy" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "ai" - "ai music" - "generative ai" - "the digest" --- # Rejoice, Drake! AI Barred From Winning a Grammy ![The Recording Academy's CEO says that songs featuring AI contributions can be submitted for a Grammy, but only human creators can win.]() *\Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images\* ## Music to Our Ears The man in charge of the Recording Academy's Grammy Awards just laid out some AI guidelines for the upcoming awards season. And though these guidelines are pretty muddled — okay, *extremely* muddled — he did say that the coveted awards will, for now, continue to only be handed to "human creators." "At this point, we are going to allow AI music and content to be submitted," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr. [told *Grammys.com*]() last week, "but the Grammys will only be allowed to go to human creators who have contributed creatively in the appropriate categories." The news should delight record labels and artists such as Aubrey "Drake" Graham, who has [been on a tirade]() to remove AI-generated music cloning his voice from music streaming services. Mason's vaguely worded statement also highlights just how confusing the world of AI-generated music has become. ## Consider This And his comments aren't exactly going to set the record straight, if you will, either. "If there's an AI voice singing the song or AI instrumentation, we'll consider it," he continued. "But in a songwriting-based category, it has to have been written mostly by a human. Same goes for performance categories – only a human performer can be considered for a Grammy." "If AI did the songwriting or created the music, that's a different consideration," he added. "But the Grammy will go to human creators at this point." So, presuming we have this right: AI-facilitated music and content can be *submitted*, and an AI-powered voice or instrumentation is deemed acceptable within the context of a broader piece of music. But at the same time, an AI won't be considered a performer or songwriter, and thus can't actually win by itself. ## Times A-Changin' Mason's explanation may be confusing, but who can blame the guy? After all, while some folks in the industry [hate AI-generated music](), others, like Claire "Grimes" Boucher, have moved to [publicly embrace it](). It's also true that while [copyright law]() certainly stands to be a concern when it comes to AI-generated tunes, [music and technology]() have long been closely intertwined. If this is the age of AI, [it's only just getting started](), and it's hard to draw clearly defined lines in the sand. Or at least, it will be for the Recording Academy. AI "is going to absolutely, unequivocally have a hand in shaping the future of our industry," Mason told *Grammys.com*. "So, we have to start planning around that and thinking about what that means for us... there are a lot of things that need to be addressed around AI as it relates to our industry." **More on AI and music:** [*Furious Record Label Gets AI-Generated Drake Song Deleted*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()