The Beatles have made Grammy history with their AI-enhanced song "Now and Then," securing nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. This groundbreaking achievement, which comes nearly 50 years after the band's breakup, showcases the innovative use of AI technology to resurrect John Lennon's vocals from a decades-old demo, allowing the legendary group to compete alongside contemporary artists.
The Beatles' Grammy Nominations
Securing nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance, "Now and Then" marks a historic return to the Grammy stage for the iconic band. This achievement sets a new record for the longest span between nominations, with 60 years separating their first nod for "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1965 and their current recognition. The song faces stiff competition in the Record of the Year category from contemporary chart-toppers such as:
Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em"
Taylor Swift's "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone
Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Father"
Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso"
Charli XCX's "360"
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2, 2025, will determine if this technological marvel can secure a win for the legendary group, potentially adding to their existing 13 Grammy awards.
AI Technology in 'Now and Then'
The groundbreaking MAL (Machine Audio Learning) system, developed by Peter Jackson's team, played a pivotal role in resurrecting John Lennon's vocals for "Now and Then." This AI technology surpassed conventional audio separation tools by:
Isolating Lennon's voice from a low-quality demo tape with background noise and piano interference
Preserving the authentic vocal performance without synthetic manipulation
Achieving superior frequency response and dynamic range compared to earlier separation technologies
Enabling seamless integration with newly recorded instrumental parts
Producer Giles Martin emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of Lennon's original performance, stating, "It was important to me that the changes we made were authentic". The AI-assisted production allowed for a unique collaboration across time, blending Lennon's preserved vocals with new contributions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Completion and Release of 'Now and Then'
The journey to complete "Now and Then" spanned nearly three decades, beginning with John Lennon's original demo from the late 1970s. After unsuccessful attempts in the mid-1990s due to technical limitations, the breakthrough came in 2022 with AI technology developed for Peter Jackson's "Get Back" documentary series. This allowed for the isolation of Lennon's voice, enabling Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to add new instrumental parts, including drums, bass, and a slide guitar solo as a tribute to George Harrison. The fully realized track was released on November 2, 2023, marking a significant milestone in Beatles history and showcasing the band's enduring creativity and willingness to embrace new technologies.
Grammy Eligibility and Impact
The Recording Academy's adaptation of Grammy eligibility rules to include AI-assisted works has paved the way for "Now and Then" to compete. For the 2025 awards, recordings must be released between September 16, 2023, and August 30, 2024, to be considered. Key criteria for AI-enhanced music include:
Human authorship must be significant and relevant to the category
AI creators are ineligible for nominations or awards
Works must contain at least 75% newly recorded material released within five years of submission
Genre-specific categories require over 50% of playing time in the specified genre
These guidelines ensure that while innovative technologies are embraced, human creativity remains at the forefront of Grammy recognition. Notably, only Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would receive the award if "Now and Then" wins, as the archival contributions of Lennon and Harrison do not meet current eligibility requirements.
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