Kehlani Slams $3M Record Deal for AI Artist Xania Monet

Singer Kehlani has voiced her disapproval after an AI-generated artist, Xania Monet, signed a groundbreaking $3 million deal with Hallwood Media, sparking intense debate about the future of music and the role of artificial intelligence in the creative process.

The deal, first reported by Billboard, marks one of the most lucrative agreements ever signed for an AI artist. Xania Monet, a fully AI-generated persona, gained industry attention after her single “Let Go, Let God” climbed to No. 21 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart and debuted at No. 25 on the Emerging Talents list.

Behind Xania Monet’s success is writer and designer Telisha “Nikki” Jones, who pens the lyrics before using the AI music platform Suno to generate the full tracks. This process has been described as a mix of human creativity and machine efficiency, but it has also reignited fears among musicians about what AI means for their livelihoods.

Kehlani Pushes Back

Kehlani, known for her soulful R&B catalog and Grammy-nominated work, reacted strongly to the news, calling it another sign that the music industry is moving away from rewarding human effort. Taking to TikTok, she argued that deals like Monet’s undermine the very idea of artistry, pointing out that AI tools can now create entire songs in minutes without the emotional labor that artists pour into their work.

Her criticism echoes a growing sentiment within the music community, where many fear that labels might prioritize AI-generated acts over human performers, cutting costs while still flooding streaming platforms with new releases.

Industry Faces AI Disruption

The signing of Xania Monet is just the latest in a string of AI-related developments shaking up the music world. In 2022, Capitol Records briefly signed FN Meka, a virtual rapper with over 10 million TikTok followers, before public backlash forced the label to sever ties. Streaming giant Deezer has also revealed that about 30,000 AI-generated songs are uploaded daily, accounting for nearly 28% of all new music submissions.

Observers say that while AI can democratize music creation by lowering barriers for new creators, it also raises major ethical and economic questions, from copyright disputes to the future of human musicianship.

Music industry experts warn that the financial incentives are clear for labels: AI-generated artists do not require tour budgets, do not age or get sick, and can release new music at an unprecedented pace. This could put additional pressure on human artists to keep up, potentially diluting quality and creativity in the race to produce content.

In 2024, concerns about misuse of AI escalated when 52-year-old Michael Smith was indicted for using bots and AI-generated tracks to fraudulently stream billions of plays, allegedly stealing millions in royalties. That case became a turning point for calls to regulate AI’s place in music distribution.

The Debate Intensifies

Fans and critics alike are now split over whether Xania Monet’s success represents innovation or a threat. Supporters argue that AI simply provides new tools for storytelling, allowing songwriters like Jones to bring fresh ideas to life more quickly. Detractors, however, see it as a slippery slope where labels might phase out human performers altogether.

For Kehlani, the issue is less about technology and more about equity, ensuring that human artists, particularly emerging ones, are not sidelined in favor of algorithmically optimized acts. As streaming platforms become saturated with AI-generated music, many fear that listeners could lose the emotional connection that comes from human storytelling.

With Xania Monet’s $3 million deal now signed, all eyes will be on how Hallwood Media markets the AI artist and whether her music gains mainstream traction beyond niche audiences. If successful, industry watchers predict more labels will follow suit, potentially ushering in a new era where human and AI artists compete side by side on the charts.

For now, Kehlani and other artists continue to sound the alarm, warning that the rise of AI in music must come with safeguards to protect human creativity, before the industry reaches a tipping point that could permanently reshape its future.

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