| November 16, 2024
YouTube has started testing an innovative feature that allows a select group of creators to “restyle” licensed music using artificial intelligence (AI) to change the mood or genre of songs in 30-second clips. The feature, part of YouTube’s Dream Track AI experiment, gives participating creators the ability to enter prompts that adjust the mood, genre, or feel of eligible tracks, providing a unique soundtrack for their YouTube Shorts.
How It Works
According to YouTube, creators in the experiment group can:
- Select an eligible song – The available track library includes popular artists who have agreed to the Dream Track initiative.
- Describe the desired style change – Creators enter prompts to customize the track’s mood or genre.
- Generate a 30-second custom soundtrack – The AI then generates a new version of the song that reflects the creator’s input, giving users a tailored soundtrack for their content.
These AI-restyled tracks will automatically include attribution to the original music source on the Short’s audio pivot page, where viewers can see details about the original song and a label indicating that the track was modified with AI.
Expanding Creative Control with Dream Track AI
The Dream Track feature comes on the heels of YouTube’s commitment to expand creative tools for its Shorts platform, as it faces fierce competition from TikTok. With AI-powered tools, YouTube aims to empower creators to remix, reshape, and reimagine music in ways that reflect their unique content style while providing a seamless way to incorporate popular music within a 30-second timeframe.
In addition to genre and mood changes, YouTube says Dream Track has an AI voice synthesis component that includes artist-approved voices from stars like Charlie Puth, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, and John Legend. These artists have collaborated to ensure their voices and music can be reshaped while maintaining artistic integrity and safety for intellectual property.
The Unanswered Questions: Labels and Song Choices
While Dream Track AI shows promise, YouTube has yet to clarify which songs are included in the feature or reveal specific details about its partnerships with major music labels. However, a June report from the Financial Times indicated that YouTube had approached several major labels to discuss using their songs to train AI models, potentially paving the way for broader integration of AI-driven music features.
As more creators gain access to Dream Track AI, YouTube will likely assess feedback and adjust the system’s features and available song library. YouTube did not respond to a request for additional information at the time of publication.
AI in Music Creation: Industry Response and Regulatory Conversations
This move aligns YouTube with a growing trend among major platforms using AI to reimagine music. For example, the music industry has grappled with how AI might influence traditional distribution, royalties, and artistic rights. The launch of Dream Track AI underscores a larger discussion about how AI will shape the future of music creation and the responsibilities of platforms like YouTube in ensuring ethical and safe practices for both creators and musicians.
