Liza Minnelli collaborates with AI for her first new music release in over a decade.

Liza Minnelli is making waves in the music scene with her first new release in 13 years, contributing her iconic vocals to an AI-generated dance track. This notable comeback introduces a fresh sound, as the song is titled “Kids, Wait Til You Hear This,” which coincidentally is also the title of her much-anticipated upcoming memoir.

At 79 years old, Minnelli ventures into the deep house genre, a significant shift for the artist known for her rich musical background. This latest track features her unique spoken-word delivery layered over an energetic beat, creating a compelling listening experience.

Minnelli’s previous musical contribution dates back to 2013, where she lent her talent to a song for the U.S. television musical drama “Smash.” During a recent announcement on her Facebook page, she expressed strong optimism regarding AI’s potential in music. She praised the company responsible for the track, ElevenLabs, referring to it as “a six billion dollar techno behemoth [doing] amazing things.” However, she clarified a crucial point: “What I will not allow this great company to do? Create, clone or copy my voice! … We used AI arrangements. Not AI vocals … The shout outs are all mine!”

In a press release accompanying the track’s debut, Minnelli reiterated her belief that music remains fundamentally about genuine human connection and emotional truths. She expressed her excitement at the idea of utilizing her voice alongside new technological tools to enhance artistic expression, rather than replace it. “This project respects the artist’s voice, the artist’s choices, and the artist’s ownership,” she emphasized, drawing upon her past experiences of observing her parents create art that was often owned by others. She concluded by highlighting that companies like ElevenLabs enable anyone to become a creator and hold ownership over their work, a significant development.

Liza’s track is included in a broader compilation showcasing various music pieces created or altered with AI technology. Notably, Art Garfunkel also features in this compilation with a track titled “Authorship,” which includes a spoken excerpt from his memoir “What Is It All But Luminous.” This heartfelt piece pays tribute to his father while being backed by an AI-generated piano soundtrack.

Garfunkel shared his thoughts on the rise of AI in music, stating, “Music has always evolved alongside technology, from microphones to multitrack recording. What impressed me about this experience was the respect for musicianship. The human remains at the center. My voice plus the technology simply opens another door.” His perspective reveals an optimistic outlook on the coexistence of human artistry and technological innovation.

This enthusiastic adoption of AI by Minnelli and Garfunkel contrasts sharply with the sentiments of others in the music industry, who express concerns that AI-generated music could threaten the job security of human musicians and create imitations of existing works without appropriate compensation for the original creators.

For instance, Ed Sheeran has voiced his apprehension regarding AI’s potential impact on employment, stating, “If you’re taking a job away from a human being, I think that’s probably a bad thing. The whole point of society is we all do jobs. If everything is done by robots, everybody’s gonna be out of work. I just find AI a bit weird.” Similarly, Lil Wayne has questioned AI’s ability to replicate his unique artistry, exclaiming, “I am naturally, organically amazing. I’m one of a kind. So actually, I would love to see that thing try to duplicate this motherfucker.”

Despite this skepticism, a new wave of generative AI companies, such as Udio, Suno, and Klay, are pushing forward in the music industry. They are forming partnerships with record labels to allow fans and other artists to manipulate existing works through AI tools, or even create entirely new tracks using text prompts. The technology learns from existing music to inform new compositions, with artists having the option to participate in these services or not.

Initially, record labels held a hostile stance against these AI companies, even threatening legal action. However, there have been several recent settlements and collaborations that have paved the way for new opportunities. For example, after resolving disputes with Universal and Warner, Udio announced its partnership with Merlin, an umbrella organization representing independent labels such as Beggars Group, Epitaph, Domino, Sub Pop, and Warp. This partnership means that indie artists like Arctic Monkeys and Aphex Twin can now offer their music to Udio’s AI development tools.

In a recent interview with the Guardian, Mikey Shulman, founder of Suno, remarked on the prevalent use of AI in the music industry. “It was described to me that we’re the Ozempic of the music industry – everybody is on it and nobody wants to talk about it,” he said, highlighting the complicated relationship between artists, technology, and creativity.