TLDR: Grammy-nominated R&B artist Kehlani has publicly criticized the recent $3 million record deal secured by AI-generated artist Xania Monet with Hallwood Media. Kehlani voiced her concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on the music industry, emphasizing the displacement of human artists and the commercialization of art.
Grammy-nominated R&B artist Kehlani has publicly voiced strong disapproval regarding the recent multi-million dollar record deal awarded to AI-generated artist Xania Monet. The virtual performer, created with artificial intelligence, reportedly secured a $3 million contract with Hallwood Media, a development that has ignited a debate within the music industry about the role of AI in artistic creation. Kehlani’s reaction, shared across social media platforms, highlights a growing concern among human artists regarding the encroachment of technology into creative spaces.
Xania Monet, an AI-crafted artist, was conceptualized by Mississippi-based designer and poet Telisha “Nikki” Jones. Jones utilized the generative music platform Suno to transform her poetry into fully produced tracks. Despite not being a vocalist herself, Jones was able to create music polished enough to attract industry attention. Monet quickly achieved commercial success, reaching No. 25 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists list, No. 21 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart, and securing a No. 1 spot on R&B Digital Song Sales with her track ‘How Was I Supposed to Know.’ Her catalog has amassed 9.8 million U.S. streams, with over half of those streams occurring in a single week.
Kehlani’s criticism was direct and unequivocal. She stated, “This is so beyond out of our control. Nothing and no one on Earth will ever be able to justify AI to me.” She further elaborated on her sadness for aspiring artists whose opportunities are being diminished by computer programs. Addressing the argument that AI artists are ‘relatable,’ Kehlani countered, “IT, not she, is taking all of the data it’s collected on us and what we want, and is tailoring to us. Even down to the voice.”
She also challenged the notion of creators using AI to realize artistic ideas they cannot execute themselves. “’Well the creator is a poet who can’t sing but wanted to make her ideas come to life.’ Maybe she should write a poetry book. I love to support a good poet. I cannot paint. So I’m not going to create AI paintings and sell them, taking up space from up and coming painters. This is the antithesis of art. Just because you can don’t mean you should. Art is not a money grab. Music means something significant to culture, to humanity, to people. Me personally I’m going to value it that way for the rest of my life.”
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The controversy surrounding Xania Monet’s deal underscores a pivotal moment for the music industry, prompting discussions about authenticity, artistic integrity, and the future of human creativity in an increasingly AI-driven world. While some view AI as an innovative tool, others, like Kehlani, see it as a threat to the foundational values of art and the livelihoods of human artists.
