D’Addario has confirmed that AI music, generated using the tool Suno, was used as part of a recent promotional video. The admission arrives after nearly two weeks in which the music company denied the allegations, even as evidence mounted against it.
During that period, D’Addario offered several explanations for the anomalies people had identified in the recording. These ranged from low-quality exports, to combinations of plug-ins such as Autotune introducing digital noise, and the use of AI-assisted mastering tools from LANDR and Logic. The company has now edited its original Instagram post, which had denied the use of generative AI, to acknowledge that it was wrong.
What the company said
In a lengthy update to its post from 29th July, D’Addario stated that it had completed a full review and confirmed that Suno Studio was used to regenerate the original track. The company said it had shared inaccurate information and apologised, adding that it does not support AI-generated music and that its process will reflect that going forward. It also said it will require employees and creative partners to disclose any use of generative AI, and will more closely review everything it publishes.
The post also apologised for heavy-handed comment moderation, which had seen posts from critics deleted and those users blocked. Rather than issue a new statement, the company appears to have simply edited its original post, ten days after it was first published.
How the controversy unfolded
The original video was a demo for a new set of strings designed for extended-range guitars and low tunings. Viewers immediately flagged the recording as suspicious. The situation worsened when D’Addario posted a clip of what it said were the Logic recording sessions for the demo track. However, there were noticeable melodic and rhythmic differences between the finished track and the Logic session.
Guitarist and YouTuber Rhett Shull obtained the original Logic files directly from D’Addario, which added further scrutiny. In his assessment, Shull concluded that Suno was probably used at some point in the process, most likely to regenerate an original recording.
The company has now confirmed that Suno Studio was used to regenerate the track. This is the latest AI controversy to affect the guitar world, following the Fender chief executive’s comments comparing bandmates to analogue AI.
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Image: theverge.com
