The song “Walk My Walk” by country group Breaking Rust recently hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart. Yet, the raspy cowboy voice behind the track is entirely generated by code. Breaking Rust is an artificial intelligence creation, and “Walk My Walk” has become the first AI-produced song to top this specific chart in U. S. music history. Its success sparks debate over how AI-generated content affects art and the future impact on creatives worldwide. AI’s rise on the charts Billboard states that AI music is “no longer a fantasy or niche curiosity” but is “already beginning to have an impact” on the music charts. Breaking Rust has attracted over two million Spotify listeners, with several of their songs streamed more than a million times each. Spotify credits Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor as the composer and lyricist, though the San Francisco Chronicle notes this name “seems linked only to Breaking Rust and another AI project called Defbeatsai. ” Many doubt whether Taylor is a genuine individual. On the same chart, another AI musician, Cain Walker, holds the third, ninth, and eleventh positions.

Over the summer, multiple songs from the AI-generated indie band Velvet Sundown surpassed one million Spotify streams. As technology progresses, much AI-produced music is “almost indistinguishable from the real thing, ” according to Whiskey Riff. This trend “poses a threat to actual artists, songwriters, and fans who value authentic art. ” The issue is expected to grow; the streaming service Deezer reportedly receives over 50, 000 fully AI-generated tracks daily. Growing presence Billboard reports that “at least six AI or AI-assisted artists have debuted on various Billboard rankings, ” a number that could be even higher as it becomes “increasingly difficult to identify who or what is AI-powered — and to what degree. ” According to Deezer’s report, most people would prefer AI-generated music and artists to be clearly labeled. AI music’s success, however, isn’t solely due to listeners’ inability to distinguish it. As The Guardian points out, “tools and platforms exist that help AI music spread quickly, ” alongside “sub-communities eager to share tips on how to game the system. ” Although “Walk My Walk” topped the Country Digital Song Sales chart, Time notes the track doesn’t appear on updated daily country streaming charts on Spotify or Apple Music. This is because “very few people purchase digital songs nowadays, ” and reaching number one only “requires a few thousand purchases. ” Still, AI music’s popularity is poised to increase, fueled by the vast volume of its output. Impact on traditional artists The primary harm affects artists producing music traditionally. Josh Antonuccio, director of Ohio University’s School of Media Arts and Studies, told Newsweek that AI-made music “is generating more noise and embedding tracks into listeners’ feeds. ” He added, “What will continue to set human artists apart are remarkable music, a compelling perspective, and a story that attracts fans. ”