Jorja Smith vs. The Machines: Label Slams Viral AI ‘Clone’ and Demands Pay

We cannot allow this to become the new normal." FAMM Records takes a stand against the unauthorized use of AI vocals, calling for a revolution in how songwriters are compensated.

It sounds like her. It flows like her. But it definitely isn't her.

Jorja Smith’s independent record label, FAMM, has officially declared war on the rising tide of AI voice cloning. The move comes after a track utilizing artificial intelligence to mimic the British singer’s distinct vocals went viral, prompting a fierce debate about the future of copyright in the music industry.

The "I Run" Controversy The drama centers on a track titled "I Run," released by a British electronic act known as Haven. Throughout October, the song blew up on TikTok, gaining massive traction and poised to enter the charts in both the UK and the US. The hook featured a female vocalist who sounded suspiciously identical to the Grammy-nominated singer.

However, before the song could officially chart, it was scrubbed from streaming platforms following claims of copyright infringement and "passing off" (impersonating) another artist.

The Label Strikes Back FAMM isn't just asking for the song to be removed; they are setting a precedent for compensation. In a statement that has rippled through the industry, the label alleged that the AI model used to create "I Run" was undoubtedly trained on Smith’s specific discography.

Their argument introduces a new concept for the AI era: If an AI is trained on an artist's catalog to generate a hit, the original songwriters behind that catalog deserve a cut. "If we are successful in establishing that AI helped to write the lyrics and melody... we would seek to allocate each of Jorja’s co-writers with a pro-rata share," the label explained. They argue that the AI is essentially "harvesting" the hard work of human creatives.

In a fiery Instagram post, FAMM stated: "This isn’t just about Jorja. It’s bigger than one artist or one song... We cannot allow this to become the new normal."

The "Human" Defense The producers behind Haven—Harrison Walker and Waypoint (Jacob Donaghue)—have not denied using technology. In fact, they admitted to using the AI tool Suno to swap Walker’s original vocal guide with a "female tone."

Speaking to Billboard, the duo maintained that they are "real humans" who simply enjoy staying on the "cutting edge" of production tools. They argue that AI was used merely to "transform" the texture of the voice, not to steal an identity maliciously.

The Legal Gray Area This case highlights the massive legal loophole currently existing in music. A spokesperson for Suno, the AI platform used, admitted that their models are indeed trained on copyrighted material but argued this is legal under "Fair Use" laws—the same laws that allow for parody or news reporting.

But FAMM argues that the speed of this technology is "substantially outpacing regulation." They are calling for mandatory labeling of AI content so listeners can choose whether they want to consume "robot music" or the real deal.

The Industry is Panicking Jorja Smith is not alone in this fight. The music world is currently in a state of high alert regarding AI:

• The Protest: Earlier this year, over 200 heavyweight artists—including Billie Eilish, Pearl Jam, and Katy Perry—signed an open letter demanding protection against AI "predatory" practices.

• The Stats: A recent study warned that musicians could lose up to 25% of their income to AI by 2028.

• The Flood: Streaming platforms are drowning in content. Deezer reported that roughly 10,000 AI-generated tracks are uploaded daily. Meanwhile, Spotify recently purged millions of "spam" tracks to combat the issue.

We’ve even seen the rise of completely fake artists, like the AI band "The Velvet Sundown" and the AI-generated "Xania Monet," causing confusion on the charts.

As the line between human talent and algorithmic generation blurs, the battle over "I Run" might just be the opening shot in a much larger war for the soul of the music industry.