AI Generated Bootlegs - Impossible or Imminent?

[Spetts]

This topic isn't necessarily confined to Rush, but I thought it might be of interest to this forum.
The other day, a bizarre album got me thinking. I was browsing R.E.M.'s YouTube Music page, and was caught off guard by this supposed "latest release..."

R.E.M. - Live in Athens, 1980
(I tried to upload the album art but I'm a Dingus and couldn't figure it out =[)

EEK!! A bootleg?? Unfortunately, this isn't unusual on streaming services. Bootlegs are listed on an artist's official page quite often. In fact, Rush's own YouTube Music page has several bootleg albums listed, with no obvious implication that they aren't endorsed by the band or label.

However, that's not what stood out about this R.E.M. bootleg to me. Look closely at the album artwork... That certainly looks AI generated to me! On it's own, not a big deal. Labels that were probably going to steal some artwork anyway can have an easier time ripping off Michael Stipe's likeness for a bootleg, so what? Well, it got my imagination spinning.

One day, AI might become advanced enough to generate a convincing "long lost" recording of Rush, close enough to record to cassette and pass off as a hidden gem. How will AI-generated content affect archival in the context of rare bootlegs, which can sometimes be dubious in origin as is? Do you think bootleg labels, hoarders and whatnot will use this tech to rip off desperate fans? Does our community need to prepare to combat this, or do you think that AI will stay too rudimentary to be considered a threat?
On the other hand, are you perhaps looking forward to AI bootlegs? Even if it's completely fabricated, wouldn't it be kind of awesome to finally hear a "live" version of Fountain of Lamneth, or would that be completely and utterly immoral, no exceptions? I'd like to hear some thoughts on all of this.

 

[Dave]

I watched Rick Beato interview Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) and they conversed at length about how AI already affects music, and what’s on the horizon, and how writers and musicians and rights-holders could be compensated. Pretty interesting stuff.

 

[Grace :)]

This topic isn't necessarily confined to Rush, but I thought it might be of interest to this forum.
The other day, a bizarre album got me thinking. I was browsing R.E.M.'s YouTube Music page, and was caught off guard by this supposed "latest release..."

R.E.M. - Live in Athens, 1980
(I tried to upload the album art but I'm a Dingus and couldn't figure it out =[)

EEK!! A bootleg?? Unfortunately, this isn't unusual on streaming services. Bootlegs are listed on an artist's official page quite often. In fact, Rush's own YouTube Music page has several bootleg albums listed, with no obvious implication that they aren't endorsed by the band or label.

However, that's not what stood out about this R.E.M. bootleg to me. Look closely at the album artwork... That certainly looks AI generated to me! On it's own, not a big deal. Labels that were probably going to steal some artwork anyway can have an easier time ripping off Michael Stipe's likeness for a bootleg, so what? Well, it got my imagination spinning.

One day, AI might become advanced enough to generate a convincing "long lost" recording of Rush, close enough to record to cassette and pass off as a hidden gem. How will AI-generated content affect archival in the context of rare bootlegs, which can sometimes be dubious in origin as is? Do you think bootleg labels, hoarders and whatnot will use this tech to rip off desperate fans? Does our community need to prepare to combat this, or do you think that AI will stay too rudimentary to be considered a threat?
On the other hand, are you perhaps looking forward to AI bootlegs? Even if it's completely fabricated, wouldn't it be kind of awesome to finally hear a "live" version of Fountain of Lamneth, or would that be completely and utterly immoral, no exceptions? I'd like to hear some thoughts on all of this.

Where there is AI-generated content, there are AI-powered tools to detect the content. Biggest example I can think of is AI-assisted cheats for video games that are impossible to detect through classic means, but there have been AI tools developed that can detect these cheats successfully.

Edit: I would be interested in an AI-generated version of some of Rush's songs from Roll The Bones made to match the live versions in '91-92, at least for just hearing what it could have sounded like.

 

[Jermdog2112]

I look forward to AI beng able to take existing bootlegs (Signals would be a good place to start) and regenerate the audio as soundboard quality. It's an actual show, just with a highly increased sound quality. Then it's no longer hidden gems, it's restored recordings!

 

[Spetts]

I watched Rick Beato interview Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) and they conversed at length about how AI already affects music, and what’s on the horizon, and how writers and musicians and rights-holders could be compensated. Pretty interesting stuff.

I took the time to watch that interview a while back, an I thought it was very insightful! It didn't occur to me that this tech could be far more advanced behind-the-scenes than what the public has access to. Now that it's been a couple months, things are probably even further along... Kind of scary to think about. Thanks for sharing!
Here's the interview if anyone else wants to check it out.

Where there is AI-generated content, there are AI-powered tools to detect the content.

Oh, that's a good point. There might be some more convincing hoaxes as a result of this tech, but the bootleg community will also have some new tools to combat said hoaxes. It's almost like an arm's race!

I look forward to AI beng able to take existing bootlegs (Signals would be a good place to start) and regenerate the audio as soundboard quality. It's an actual show, just with a highly increased sound quality. Then it's no longer hidden gems, it's restored recordings!

I seem to recall that The Beatles recent "Now and Then" release used AI for restoration, so it would seem this is well within the realm of possibility already. It's fun to imagine that one day, meticulously EQing and speed correcting old bootlegs could be a thing of the past.
I bet the next 50 years are gonna be exciting! See y'all in 2070, when I'll be listening to the original studio albums again anyway =P