The Beatles Make Grammy History With AI: How Tech Completed Their Final Song

The Beatles, the legendary British rock band, have made history once again, this time with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Their final song, "Now and Then," completed with the assistance of AI, has won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance, marking a significant milestone in the music industry's adoption of AI technology.



The song, released in November 2023, was created using a demo of John Lennon's vocals from the late 1970s and music parts added by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison in the 1990s. The track was never released due to technical limitations preventing Lennon's vocals and piano from being separated from the original lo-fi demo. However, with the help of AI and machine learning technology, the old demo was cleaned up and released as the band's last song.



McCartney and Starr completed the song in 2021 with the help of filmmaker Peter Jackson and his sound team, who developed machine-learning technology capable of isolating and cleaning up different components of Lennon's recording. This technology greatly differs from generative AI tech that can create music mimicking an artist's style and vocals, but confusion around AI terminology led to some backlash online when the track was released.

McCartney clarified that nothing was artificially or synthetically created, and that they only cleaned up existing recordings. "We've seen some confusion and speculation about it," he said. "To be clear, nothing has been artificially or synthetically created. It's all real and we all play on it. We cleaned up some existing recordings — a process which has gone on for years."

The success of "Now and Then" has significant implications for the music industry's adoption of AI in production and composition. As AI becomes more prevalent, artists and producers will have access to new creative tools, allowing them to experiment with different styles, sounds, and genres. However, there are also concerns about job displacement for human musicians, producers, and songwriters, as well as ethical questions about authenticity, creativity, and ownership.

In conclusion, The Beatles' Grammy-winning song "Now and Then" demonstrates the potential of AI in music production and composition. As AI continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly shape the future of the music industry, offering new opportunities for artists and consumers alike. However, it is crucial to address the ethical considerations and challenges that arise from the use of AI in music creation to ensure a balanced and sustainable future for the industry.