Billboard's top country song is AI-made; industry sounds alarm
What's the story
The country song Walk My Walk by Breaking Rust has topped Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart, raising questions about its authenticity. The song features vague lyrics like "kick rocks" and "I was born this way, been loud too long," with no clear personal narrative behind them. Despite this, the track has amassed a loyal fanbase, accumulating 3.5 million streams on Spotify in less than a month. Billboard has confirmed the track is an AI act, sparking concerns.
Chart success
Chart success and digital sales
Walk My Walk reached No. 1 on Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart in mid-October, holding the position for a second consecutive week. The chart measures paid digital downloads from platforms like iTunes and AmazonMP3. According to Billboard's bulletin dated October 6, the top song in this category sold around 3,000 copies that week. Another song from the same album, Livin' On Borrowed Time, has also been charting.
Artist profile
Breaking Rust's online presence
Breaking Rust is a verified artist with over two million monthly listeners on Spotify. The artist has a strong online following, boasting nearly 40,000 Instagram followers and more than 22,000 YouTube subscribers. Fans are actively engaging with the music on both platforms, some expressing disbelief at its possible AI origins while others insist that the quality of the song is all that matters.
Creator mystery
Who is the song writer?
The song Walk My Walk credits list Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor as the songwriter but research links that name to a group called Def Beats AI, which openly describes itself as an AI-driven music project. Some reports even suggest that Taylor himself could be an artificial identity. Billboard has listed at least six AI artists whose works have charted in the past few months. This list includes the viral AI singer, Xania Monet.
Artistry debate
Implications for the creative industry
The success of Walk My Walk raises fundamental questions about the definition of artistry. If software can compose lyrics, generate voices, and produce visual branding, what becomes of the distinction between human creativity and machine output? This technological shift is also spilling into other creative industries, with Hollywood actors like Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine recently collaborating with AI audio company ElevenLabs to reproduce their voices for commercial purposes. Meanwhile, others have criticized AI for potentially replacing musicians.