An A.I. Artist Just Signs a $3 Million Deal?!

An AI-generated musician named Xania Monet—created by R&B artist Telisha "Nikki" Jones using the AI music platform Suno—just signed a $3 million record deal with Hallwood Media.

Jones writes all the lyrics herself but uses Suno to generate Monet’s voice, image, and music production. Monet already topped the Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales chart and has a strong TikTok following, even though many fans don’t realize she’s AI.

This deal lands right in the middle of a storm: the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is suing Suno, accusing it of stealing copyrighted music from YouTube to train its AI. Similar lawsuits are brewing across film, art, and publishing.

The big question: who profits when an AI artist makes it big? Some see this as a democratization of music, giving outsiders a shot at stardom, while others, like R&B star Kehlani, slam it as an insult to human artists.

This record deal highlights the ongoing fight over AI in the arts: is it innovation, exploitation, or both?

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