Thousands listening, no consent given: AI-Generated Salidummay songs spark cultural rights, IP debate in the Cordillera

"We were really frustrated when we found out that AI Salidummay has been distributing generative AI versions of Salidummay’s songs on Spotify without consent. We already called them out last year when they uploaded these on Facebook, which is clearly for commercial purposes and not for the song’s original socio-political and cultural purposes." -DKK Secretariat Staff JasonVerzola.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The growing online distribution of AI-generated versions of songs associated with the Salidummay collective has recently sparked debate over Indigenous cultural rights, intellectual property, and consent in the Cordillera, highlighting the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence to traditional and culturally significant works.

AI-generated remixes are altered versions of existing songs created using artificial intelligence tools that can imitate voices, modify musical arrangements, or combine elements of original recordings with newly generated sounds.

These technologies can separate audio into individual components such as vocals, drums, and bass lines, change genres and tempos, or add entirely new instrumentation, allowing users to produce new versions of songs with minimal human input.

The issue recently gained attention in the Cordillera after AI-generated remixes of several Salidummay songs appeared on Spotify under the profile “AI Salidummay,” prompting concerns from Dap-ayan ti Kultura ti Kordilyera (DKK) over the unauthorized use and possible commercialization of culturally significant music.

As of June 15, the Spotify profile had 47,488 monthly listeners. The account was also linked to a YouTube channel with 18,000 subscribers and an Instagram page with 72,900 followers, reflecting the extensive online reach of the AI-generated remixes.

In an interview with Guru Press, DKK secretariat staff Jason Verzola said the group was alarmed by the unauthorized distribution of AI-generated versions of Salidummay songs, emphasizing that the music was originally created as a tool for cultural expression and socio-political advocacy rather than commercial gain.

"We were really frustrated when we found out that AI Salidummay has been distributing generative AI versions of Salidummay’s songs on Spotify without consent. We already called them out last year when they uploaded these on Facebook, which is clearly for commercial purposes and not for the song’s original socio-political and cultural purposes," Verzola said.

According to Verzola, DKK supports the use of Salidummay songs for cultural, educational, and community purposes, provided that their original meaning, context, and the rights of the communities they represent are respected.

The controversy has also raised broader questions about the application of intellectual property rights and Indigenous cultural rights in the era of generative AI, particularly when culturally rooted works are reproduced, modified, and distributed online without the consent of their creators or the communities connected to them.

Verzola urged cultural organizations and advocates to examine the implications of emerging technologies on culture and the arts, noting that generative AI is likely to become increasingly prevalent in society.

"Cultural organizations must carefully study the rise of generative AI , whether we like it or not, we cannot stop the rise of modern technologies such as generative AI. We must use these technologies for the collective betterment of all, not for our own individualized interests," he added.

As of this writing, DKK is exploring possible legal remedies while continuing its advocacy for the responsible and ethical use of Indigenous cultural works, amid growing discussions on how cultural heritage and traditional artistic expressions can be protected in the age of artificial intelligence.