The Unauthorized AI Remix Became a Global Hit, How This Label Dealt With It

Why It Matters

The case exposes a gap in copyright law and licensing frameworks for AI-generated music, threatening artists’ royalties and control over their work and forcing labels, platforms and policymakers to define new norms for attribution, compensation and legality. Rapidly adopted AI tools could replicate this pattern, creating urgent commercial and regulatory risks for the music business.

Summary

An unauthorized AI-generated remix of Stick Figure’s 2019 song “Angels Above Me” surfaced and unexpectedly became a global hit—peaking at No. 2 on Shazam—without crediting or paying the original artist. Adam Gross, president of Ineffable Records, recounts six weeks of scrambling to identify the source, contact platforms and rights holders, and confront the legal gray area around AI-created music. The incident highlights how easily generative models can reproduce recognizable recordings or production elements and be monetized or promoted without traditional licensing. Major outlets including the LA Times and The Atlantic have picked up the story as industry stakeholders debate responses.

Original Description

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Adam Gross, the president of Ineffable Records. Adam founded Ineffable Records in 2019 and later became a co-owner of Ineffable Music Group, now Billboard’s top independent reggae label for six consecutive years. Ineffable works with artists such as Stick Figure, Collie Buddz, Protoje, The Elovaters, and O.A.R., and many more.

In this episode, they discuss the recent unauthorized viral AI remixes of Stick Figure’s song “Angels Above Me.” At its peak, the unauthorized remix was #2 on the global Shazam charts and reached #1 on several different iTunes charts across Europe. They discuss the legal challenges of unauthorized AI remixes, the ethical considerations, and how the story led to a David Guetta x Alok version surfacing. Adam discusses the operational reality of dealing with this in real time, and how strategy to combat unauthorized AI remixes changes everyday.

Follow Adam Gross:

https://www.instagram.com/adam.g.r.o.s.s/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgross2018/

Check out Stick Figure:

https://stickfigure.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stickfiguremusic/

Chapters

05:07 Navigating Copyright in the Age of AI

10:03 The Bootleg Remix Phenomenon

14:58 The Role of Labels and Distributors

19:59 Ethics and Future of AI in Music

25:07 Navigating Major Label Deals

28:24 The Impact of Viral Trends on Music

30:43 Whack-a-Mole: The Challenge of Unauthorized Remixes

32:30 Collaborating with Major Artists

36:51 Ethics and AI in Music Production

39:35 The Future of Derivative Works

42:36 User-Centric Payment Models in Streaming

50:52 Building Timeless Music and Community

Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com