Tracy Melon calls for removal of AI versions of artistes’ songs

What the report says

Ugandan singer Tracy Melon is urging people to remove artificial intelligence-generated versions of artistes’ songs and voices, saying the practice undervalues the work that goes into making original music. In comments reported by Sqoop Uganda, she argued that musicians spend significant time and resources recording vocals, refining performances and preparing songs for release, only to see AI copies circulate online afterward.

Melon said the issue is especially frustrating when an AI-made version of a song gets more attention than the artiste’s own recording. She questioned why performers would continue spending long hours in studios if their voices can be imitated by software and shared as alternate versions without their direct involvement. Her remarks frame the dispute as one about respect for creative labour and the effort behind a finished track.

The comments reflect a broader debate in the music industry, where AI tools are increasingly used to mimic voices, generate vocals and produce new takes on existing songs. As Sqoop Uganda noted, that trend has raised concerns about consent, ownership and copyright, particularly when artistes are not asked before their work is replicated.

Melon’s appeal places Uganda’s music conversation within that wider global discussion, highlighting tensions between new technology and the rights of performers whose original recordings may be copied, altered or overshadowed online.