BPI Vet Geoff Taylor Joins Sony Music As EVP, Artificial Intelligence

With the artificial intelligence boom in full swing, 15-year British Phonographic Industry (BPI) head Geoff Taylor has signed on as the first EVP of artificial intelligence for Sony Music Entertainment (SME).

The IFPI vet Taylor, who said last August that he would depart the BPI in 2023 to pursue “a more directly commercial role,” formally announced his new position in a LinkedIn post today. Of course, the development arrives as AI continues to play an increasingly significant part in the industry, creating no shortage of infringement concerns as well as perceived revenue opportunities for the major labels and other prominent companies.

“I’m delighted to share that I have joined the brilliant team at Sony Music Entertainment to lead their global AI strategy,” penned Taylor. “It’s the next exciting chapter in the evolution of the music business and it will be a privilege to work with so many talented colleagues to help Sony Music embrace this change in a way that will benefit its artists and songwriters.”

On the latter front, Sony Music and its fellow Big Three labels are taking steps to stem the tide (or at least the prevalence) of AI releases. Echoing remarks made by Universal Music Group (UMG) CEO Lucian Grainge towards 2023’s start, SME CEO Rob Stringer last month claimed that streaming services had been “watered down by low quality and meaningless volume.”

And when it comes to allegedly infringing AI music – unauthorized soundalike tracks chief among them – the majors have been quick to compel streaming-service removals and are reportedly developing a related takedown notice system with leading platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Moreover, certain emerging streaming players are now catering to fans who are looking to listen to the mentioned AI-powered soundalike projects.

But beyond these and adjacent efforts to counteract the abundance of both legal and allegedly infringing AI music, the majors have also been moving to cash in on the unprecedented technology. Prior to Taylor’s joining SME, for instance, Universal Music one month ago unveiled a partnership deal with relaxation app Endel.

As part of the union, Endel and UMG said they’d use AI to create “both new music and new versions of catalog music” – with execs emphasizing “the incredible potential of ethical AI.” In April of 2022, well before the Endel tie-up closed and all manner of AI media began pouring into the entertainment landscape, Universal Music joined Disney, Microsoft, and others in backing artificial intelligence music-creation platform Soundful.