Beatles song that was restored with AI, “Now and Then”, is nominated for a Grammy

Five decades after their official separation, the Beatles emerge as candidates for two Grammy awards with their latest song, Now and Then. But how is this possible? The song had help from AI (Artificial Intelligence) to be released in November 2023.

This is a historic moment not only for Beatles fans, but also for the music industry, bringing the combination of pure art and cutting-edge technology. The song, restored by AI, competes for the Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance awards, competing with contemporary music names such as Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and Green Day.

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The story behind Now and Then

Now and Then originated as a demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s. In the 1990s, the recording was turned over to the band’s three remaining members, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, initially for inclusion. in The Beatles Anthology project.

At the same time, songs such as Free As A Bird and Real Love were completed and released, but Now and Then ended up being left out, as the technology available at the time did not allow for a clear separation of Lennon’s vocals and piano, which compromised recording quality.

A few years later, more precisely in 2021, technology was already advanced enough to restore music as they wanted. It was then that Peter Jackson, a filmmaker known for his work on The Lord of the Rings, and his sound team used machine learning tools to separate Lennon’s voice from the other elements of the recording.

With the audio isolated, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr completed the track, creating a final version that brought the essence of the Beatles to a new generation.

The impact of Now and Then on Grammy rules

The use of AI in music has brought new discussions about eligibility for awards like the Grammys, especially considering the recent popularization of these technologies in the music industry.

According to Grammy guidelines, “only human creators are eligible to submit to, be nominated for, or win a Grammy,” but works that contain “elements” of AI material are eligible in certain categories.

Now and Then qualifies for the Grammy because the AI ​​was used only to isolate Lennon’s vocal parts, leaving the final composition and performance to the remaining members of the Beatles. In other words, it did not replace any type of human art.

For many, seeing a Beatles song alongside modern releases from artists like Taylor Swift, Charli XCX and The Black Keys shows the strength and lasting power of the band and technology’s ability to make connections between generations.

Now and Then is in the running for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance, which could make this the first time a partially AI-restored song has won one of the Grammy’s main categories. The result will be revealed at the awards ceremony, which will only take place next year, on February 2nd.

Fonte: theverge