Our Story
Organization Serving Artists & Right Holders
We exist because we believe fiercely in the value of artists to our world
After several years and an enormous amount of research, we have bold claims to make about what is really happening to music in the age of AI, what is coming next, and what solutions can address the disruption. We are machine learning engineers and developers working inside AI research labs. We understand what this technology can and cannot do, and as artists we translate that into what it means for other composers, songwriters, rights holders, and musicians.
Research explaining how AI music systems are researched, trained, and built and what those choices mean for artists and rights holders, is disconnected from the current music-industry. We translate what is happening in the lab into creative-rights risks, recommendations, and responsible practices.
Introducing Our People
Team
Join the Team
We embrace a decentralized organization to empower our team, foster innovation, and respond swiftly to meet the rapid advance of AI.
James O'Brien
Executive Director
James directs generative AI music research and mentors university DS, CS, and ML teams, translating their findings for artists and rights holders. He draws on over 25 years as a composer and producer, including his early experience founding Santa Monica’s Element Music.
Richard Blakely
President
CEO and Co-Founder of Influxis, Xirsys, and Millicast, Richard is a trailblazer in the real-time communications industry. His innovations enable immersive interactions globally, serving top brands.
Jerry Chabolla
Creative Director
Jerry Chabolla, co-founder of Millicast, Xirsys, and Influxis, specializes in product solutions, user experience, and design shaping Sound Ethics' solutions to champion artists' rights with an intuitive and ethical approach.
Keely Hawkes
Music Director
Keely Hawkes, a distinguished recording artist with history at E.M.I Records, Virgin U.K., and Interscope Records USA, brings her deep passion for songwriting, singing, and artist development to Sound Ethics.
Georgios Ioannou
Data Scientist
Georgios is a data science instructor specializing in machine learning and AI across music, healthcare, and quantum computing. He holds a Master’s in DS from NYU and was The City College of New York’s 2024 valedictorian.
Chris Stanley
Music Analyst
Chris specializes in music classification and taxonomy, championing artists’ rights and the power of music to strengthen and heal communities. He is also a musician, singer, and skateboarder.
Cristian Roberts
Developer
Cristian is a developer at Sound Ethics with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Engineering from UC Riverside. His experience spans edge AI, computer vision, Python, and distributed systems, alongside university research collaborations.
Absolute Respect for Creative Copyright
No Training Models Without Direct Consent
We insist on transparent attribution of training data. Preserve the legacy and rights of human works that fuel AI progress.
Innovation and Collaboration
We Cannot Rely On Policymakers To "Fix" This Problem
While we advocate for legislative support, we place greater emphasis on collective efforts and industry self-regulation. We support the creation, adoption, and facilitation of responsible frameworks and practices for AI / ML audio development.
Standards for AI Rights
Responsible AI Depends on Rights Information That Works Across Systems
AI rights require information about the copyright, attribution, provenance, and permitted use of training data. We collaborate with industry partners to develop open frameworks that support responsible AI, protect artists, prevent fraud, and respect the rights of everyone involved.
Education for Responsible AI Advocacy
The Power of Research to Transform the Music Industry
Our commitment lies in educating artists, industry professionals, data scientists, and the broader public about AI's implications for music rights.
Talk
with us
Talk with us
Whether you are from a university, part of the music industry, a data scientist, or involved with a government or non-profit organization, we welcome your interest in supporting our advocacy efforts.
Questions?
Contact Us
© 2024 Sound Ethics Inc.
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1800 Vine StreetHollywood, CA 90028, USA
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