An AI Copy Everyone Loves: Brenda Lee’s Christmas Classic Gets a Spanish Twist!

Recently, AI has found itself clashing more and more with artists' intellectual property. From unauthorized "AI songs" featuring famous performers to artwork created without the original artists' consent, legal and ethical concerns are piling up. So, when news breaks about a new AI-powered project, it usually spells trouble—especially from a legal perspective. But this time, the story is different. Universal Music Group has delivered a little Christmas miracle: the 1958 holiday classic Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree reimagined with a fresh Spanish twist. And the best part? Every step of the process was done with respect for the artist and her work.

Universal Music, in collaboration with SoundLabs, has brought a fresh twist to the holiday classic Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by creating a brand-new Spanish vocal rendition using MicDrop, a cutting-edge AI tool. This isn’t just a karaoke cover—it’s a faithful recreation of Brenda Lee’s voice as it sounded back in 1958, but now delivering the holiday cheer en español. Imagine 13-year-old Brenda taking a festive detour to Spain and singing her iconic tune in Spanish.

Musicians have good reason to be cautious about how their work is used. AI-generated content often finds itself in murky legal waters—think of all those unauthorized "AI Drake" tracks. This time, however, Universal Music has done things by the book. Brenda Lee gave her full consent, and all the necessary agreements were signed. Finally, AI that respects the artists!

Why does AI in music come with so much paperwork? A performer’s voice is legally protected as a unique and personal asset. Without strict guidelines, anyone could whip up an "AI Beyoncé" track in a different language, leading to complete legal chaos.

So, how did this song come to life? Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree was originally written by Johnny Marks, a prolific songwriter best known for his holiday hits like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Marks passed away in 1985, meaning the rights to the song now belong to his heirs or the company managing his music catalogue. Universal Music had to obtain their permission to adapt the song into Spanish.

And Brenda Lee? While she performed the original version of the song, she doesn’t own the rights to the composition. However, her vocal performance and voice are protected under copyright law. To create the Spanish vocal track using AI, Universal Music also needed Brenda Lee’s approval to model her voice authentically. Essentially, Universal had to secure agreements from both the rights holders of the song and the artist herself.

This remix isn’t just a treat for holiday music lovers—it’s a glimpse into the future of music, where we may hear beloved songs in multiple languages, sung in the voices we know and love. With respect for artists’ rights and consent baked into the process, this is a win-win for fans and creators alike.

So, as you sip your holiday punch and search for fresh tunes to add to your festive playlist, Noche Buena y Navidad could be the perfect addition—blending nostalgia, innovation, and a sprinkle of holiday magic.

Source: Harshita Mary, Varghese and Maju , S. (2024) ‘Universal Music Release AI-Powered Spanish Version of Brenda Lee’s Hit Song’. Reuters [online] 25 October. available from <https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/universal-music-release-ai-powered-spanish-version-brenda-lees-hit-song-2024-10-25/> [6 December 2024]

Photo: LoMit, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 

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