AI Artist FN Meka signs Record Deal,Igniting Copyright Debate
Los Angeles,CA - September 25,2025 – Virtual artist FN Meka,created by Factory Newborn,has signed a record deal with Capitol Records,sparking a complex debate surrounding copyright,artistic authenticity,and the future of music creation. The deal marks a watershed moment – the first time a major label has contracted an entirely AI-generated artist, but its also opened a Pandora’s Box of legal and ethical questions.
The move has ignited controversy within the music industry, raising concerns about authorship, ownership, and the potential displacement of human artists. While FN Meka’s creators control the AI and curate its output, the underlying technology relies on vast datasets of existing music, prompting questions about potential copyright infringement and the very definition of originality. The deal underscores a rapidly evolving landscape where artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day force reshaping creative industries, demanding a re-evaluation of established legal frameworks.
FN meka, a digital avatar with 10 million followers on TikTok, generates music using AI algorithms. Factory Newborn states the AI learns by analyzing data from popular artists and trends, than composes original tracks. Capitol Records initially touted the signing as a glimpse into the future, highlighting FN Meka’s ability to connect with a young, digitally native audience.
However, the partnership quickly drew criticism after revelations about the AI’s training data and lyrical content. reports surfaced indicating FN meka had previously released songs containing offensive and stereotypical depictions of marginalized groups. While Factory Newborn removed the tracks and issued an apology, the incident amplified concerns about the potential for AI to perpetuate harmful biases.
“We didn’t think about the potential negative implications,” said Alex Harrow, Factory Newborn’s CEO, in a statement released September 24, 2025.”We were focused on the technology and the potential for innovation, but we failed to adequately address the ethical considerations.”
Legal experts predict the FN Meka deal will likely trigger a wave of copyright challenges.Existing copyright law typically requires human authorship, leaving the legal status of AI-generated works ambiguous. “the core issue is who owns the copyright when a machine creates the work,” explains intellectual property attorney Sarah Chen. “Is it the programmer, the owner of the data used to train the AI, or is the work simply not copyrightable?”
The U.S. Copyright Office has yet to issue definitive guidance on AI-generated art, but is actively reviewing the issue. The FN meka case is expected to accelerate that process, perhaps leading to new legislation or court rulings that clarify the legal rights surrounding AI-created content.
Capitol Records has not commented on the specific copyright implications of the deal,but industry analysts anticipate the label will be closely monitoring the legal developments. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future collaborations between record labels and AI artists,shaping the future of music creation and ownership for years to come.
