When Lucas Horne, 26, awoke from his months-long coma in April 2017, the UK musician faced a devastating reality: the brain injury he sustained had robbed him of his ability to play musical instruments. For many artists, this might have meant the end of their musical journey. Instead, it became the beginning of a new chapter powered by artificial intelligence.
“AI Gave Me A Voice,” Lucas’s track under the name The BTO Kid, channels not only his recovery experience, but also the trauma of losing his girlfriend months after regaining consciousness. Despite his physical limitations, Lucas was able to express emotions such as pain, defiance, and determination through every bar and note.
Lucas’s story is one of several powerful narratives highlighted by the Future Sound Awards, dubbed “The Grammys” for AI music. The competition, launched by Fanvue’s World AI Creator Awards in partnership with SoundCloud and TwoShot, has unveiled its Top 15 shortlisted tracks from over 500 entries spanning 20 countries.
“The impact of AI in music continues to divide opinion, but for the first time, via the Future Sound Awards, we’re able to show a different perspective on the positive impact of AI in music,” said Narcis Marincat, Head of AI at Fanvue.
Global Reach and Industry Recognition
The competition features a judging panel that includes producer Jeff Nang (Disney, Universal, Sony), German AI hitmaker Butterbro, TwoShot founder Tobi Akinyemi, and Marincat himself. Entries were evaluated on vocals, lyrics, beat, and authenticity at London’s Westpoint Studios, where artists such as Adele and Kanye West have recorded material.
“There’s something super powerful at the intersection between the emotion that goes into songwriting, and how AI is enabling creators to bare all and bring that emotion to life through sound,” said judge Butterbro.
Diverse Stories Through Technology
The shortlist reflects diverse personal narratives: Ghost Ryder from the U.S. created “Heaven Knows” about the fleeting joy of fatherhood; Italian artist Korozial channels youth and memory in “Honey Gold”; and Malaysia’s RosaMística produced “Motor de Pasión,” bringing Latin fire from across the globe.
The awards come as AI music creation grows more mainstream. A report from the International Music Summit indicates that over 60 million people used AI to create music in 2024, with established artists such as David Guetta and Grimes incorporating these tools into their creative processes.
Competition Details and Prizes
The awards offer $10,000 in prizes: $7,000 for first place and $1,500 each for second and third place. The winners will be announced later in September.
“Getting together with the other judges at Westpoint Studios was a mind-blowing experience – and the standard of entries was really impressive,” said Jeff Nang, Head Judge and Founder of AI vocal tool ControllaVoice.
The competition marks Fanvue’s first venture into music, expanding from its platform where over 180,000 creators use AI-powered monetization tools.
Dragomir is a Serbian freelance blog writer and translator. He is passionate about covering insightful stories and exploring topics such as influencer marketing, the creator economy, technology, business, and cyber fraud.
When Lucas Horne, 26, awoke from his months-long coma in April 2017, the UK musician faced a devastating reality: the brain injury he sustained had robbed him of his ability to play musical instruments. For many artists, this might have meant the end of their musical journey. Instead, it became the beginning of a new chapter powered by artificial intelligence.
“AI Gave Me A Voice,” Lucas’s track under the name The BTO Kid, channels not only his recovery experience, but also the trauma of losing his girlfriend months after regaining consciousness. Despite his physical limitations, Lucas was able to express emotions such as pain, defiance, and determination through every bar and note.
Lucas’s story is one of several powerful narratives highlighted by the Future Sound Awards, dubbed “The Grammys” for AI music. The competition, launched by Fanvue’s World AI Creator Awards in partnership with SoundCloud and TwoShot, has unveiled its Top 15 shortlisted tracks from over 500 entries spanning 20 countries.
“The impact of AI in music continues to divide opinion, but for the first time, via the Future Sound Awards, we’re able to show a different perspective on the positive impact of AI in music,” said Narcis Marincat, Head of AI at Fanvue.
Global Reach and Industry Recognition
The competition features a judging panel that includes producer Jeff Nang (Disney, Universal, Sony), German AI hitmaker Butterbro, TwoShot founder Tobi Akinyemi, and Marincat himself. Entries were evaluated on vocals, lyrics, beat, and authenticity at London’s Westpoint Studios, where artists such as Adele and Kanye West have recorded material.
“There’s something super powerful at the intersection between the emotion that goes into songwriting, and how AI is enabling creators to bare all and bring that emotion to life through sound,” said judge Butterbro.
Diverse Stories Through Technology
The shortlist reflects diverse personal narratives: Ghost Ryder from the U.S. created “Heaven Knows” about the fleeting joy of fatherhood; Italian artist Korozial channels youth and memory in “Honey Gold”; and Malaysia’s RosaMística produced “Motor de Pasión,” bringing Latin fire from across the globe.
The awards come as AI music creation grows more mainstream. A report from the International Music Summit indicates that over 60 million people used AI to create music in 2024, with established artists such as David Guetta and Grimes incorporating these tools into their creative processes.
Competition Details and Prizes
The awards offer $10,000 in prizes: $7,000 for first place and $1,500 each for second and third place. The winners will be announced later in September.
“Getting together with the other judges at Westpoint Studios was a mind-blowing experience – and the standard of entries was really impressive,” said Jeff Nang, Head Judge and Founder of AI vocal tool ControllaVoice.
The competition marks Fanvue’s first venture into music, expanding from its platform where over 180,000 creators use AI-powered monetization tools.
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