The Indian AI band Trilok, a quartet of spiritual rock musicians, made headlines by performing live in Mumbai, despite the government's denial of association. How did this AI band, whose music, lyrics, and visual identity were entirely created using AI, manage to pull off a live performance? The same four masked musicians, who appear in studio session clips shared on the band's social media, took the stage after learning the songs. This performance marked a new collaboration with clothing brand The Souled Store for an upcoming merchandise collection, worn by the unidentified performers in their live avatar.
However, the same day as the concert, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting issued a clarification that Prasar Bharati, a state-funded media organization, did not partner with AI-generated music band Trilok for broadcasting content on Akashvani, Doordarshan, or its OTT platform WAVES. The statement explained that a few AI-created devotional songs were telecast during the Durga Navratri festival on a pilot basis without any monetary or recurring commitment. This clarification followed increasing discussions in Parliament about the use of artificial intelligence in state-funded media.
Despite the government's denial, Trilok has released five tracks, including two 'live' versions, and their monthly listeners on Spotify have increased to 2,131, almost double the figure at the time of the Prasar Bharati announcement. However, the band's impact on the music industry remains modest, with their success not posing a significant threat to human musicians. The controversy surrounding Trilok's performance and the government's response highlights the ongoing debate about the role of AI in the creative arts.
