Kehlani criticizes AI in music as Xania Monet signs deal

Kehlani criticized the growing role of artificial intelligence in music after a digital R&B act operated by a human lyricist reportedly signed a multimillion dollar record deal and began charting this month. The act, known as Xania Monet, is presented as a virtual artist whose songs are created by Mississippi poet Telisha Nikki Jones using the generative audio platform Suno. The contract, described by industry reports as roughly a 3 million dollar agreement with Hallwood Media, has reignited debate over AI, copyright and the future of human musicianship.

In social posts this week, the Grammy nominated singer argued that AI-generated music threatens the livelihoods of rising artists. "There is an AI R&B artist who just signed a multimillion dollar deal and the person is doing none of the work," Kehlani said in a video. "This is so beyond out of our control. Nothing and no one on Earth will ever be able to justify AI to me." The artist added that AI can produce entire songs, vocals and beats without crediting the creators whose work trains these systems, and said she would not respect a process that displaces human labor.

Jones's manager, Romel Murphy, pushed back on the portrayal...