Beatles Make Grammy History with AI-Assisted 'Now & Then' Nominations

Beatles Make Grammy History with AI-Assisted 'Now & Then' Nominations

By Marcus Bennett

November 18, 2024 at 01:24 AM

The Beatles' 'Now and Then' has made history as the first AI-assisted song to receive Grammy nominations, securing spots in both Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance categories.

Beatles promoting Now and Then song

Beatles promoting Now and Then song

The groundbreaking track combines John Lennon's 1978 demo recordings with contemporary contributions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, plus archived recordings of George Harrison. Using AI technology similar to background noise filtering in modern communication platforms, McCartney's team cleaned up Lennon's original demo tapes to create what's being called "the last Beatles record."

The AI technology, inspired by Peter Jackson's "The Beatles: Get Back" documentary, is the same software used by producer Giles Martin for the stereo remix of the Beatles' Revolver album. This innovative approach has allowed the band to create new music despite having disbanded 50 years ago.

While the nomination is historic, "Now and Then" faces stiff competition from contemporary artists like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish. With 78 million Spotify streams, it currently has the lowest streaming numbers among Record of the Year nominees. However, the nominations themselves demonstrate the Beatles' enduring influence on popular music, as they compete for major awards decades after their breakup.

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