K. Michelle revealed her intentions to sue AI artist Xania Monet, whose soulful tone has fans raising eyebrows and pointing fingers.
The issue? A growing number of listeners swear Xania Monet’s vocals sound just like K. Michelle’s. Not inspired by her. Not loosely reminiscent. But nearly identical. And K. Michelle has officially had enough.
After weeks of fans tagging her in viral clips of Monet’s music, K. Michelle finally addressed the issue head-on.
“I’m a writer. I don’t need anybody to write me any songs right now,” she said. “AI people using my tone and my voice and all of that. And now I have to go find a lawyer. All types of stuff are going on.”
She went on to explain that she has stacks of songs ready to go, songs she plans to write not only for herself but also for other artists.
“Once I sat down, oh my God, the amount of songs I’m going to write. I’m able to make 20 records a week.”
In case you’ve missed it, Xania Monet is the latest AI sensation shaking up the music industry. Monet’s voice, or rather, the voice produced by the AI system that powers her, has appeared on multiple Billboard charts, making her the first known AI artist to debut on a Billboard radio chart.
She’s charted on at least five Billboard categories since her first release.
But behind the avatar is a real human. Telisha “Nikki” Jones, a 31-year-old Mississippi poet and entrepreneur, is the creator.
Jones created Xania Monet only four months ago after teaching herself how to use AI tools. She openly admits she cannot sing and relies on AI to craft the vocals. According to her, the lyrics come from deeply personal poems she’s written throughout her life.
It’s a blend of technology, poetry, and digital artistry, but it’s also a process that brings up major questions about vocal ownership in an AI era.
Listeners were the first to spot the similarities between Xania Monet’s vocals and K. Michelle’s signature tone.
K. Michelle’s decision to pursue legal action signals a turning point. Because if she moves forward with her lawsuit, it could open the door for a massive shift in how AI-generated music is regulated.
