Popular Christian artist Forrest Frank is warning his followers that the top-performing Christian artist on the iTunes charts was created by artificial intelligence.
He’s concerned about the implications of this development because “AI does not have the Holy Spirit inside of it.”
In a social media video Frank informed his followers that: “The No. 1 album right now for Christian music on iTunes and the No. 2 top singles over Elevation, Brandon Lake, whoever, is AI.”
While Frank did not explicitly name the AI artist at the top of the iTunes charts, screenshots included in the video identified the top Christian album as Faithful Soul by Solomon Ray.
The top two Christian songs on iTunes are also by Ray and incredibly difficult for most listeners to discern as generated by a computer program, if you listen to “Find Your Rest” and “Goodbye Temptation.”
CHART-TOPPING SINGER AN AI PERSONA CREATED BY A MUSICIAN
The Christian Post explains that Solomon Ray is actually an AI persona created by Mississippi-based artist Christopher Jermaine Townsend, who is known by the stage name Topher.
“I hate to even bring attention to this, but I want to just let you guys know this is out there, and I think it’s important that we just pause a little bit and kind of ask the questions of like, ‘Is this something that we want?’” Forrest Frank added.
“At a minimum, AI does not have the Holy Spirit inside of it, so I think that’s really weird to be opening up your spirit to something that has no spirit.”
“I personally will not be listening to this. I already don’t listen to secular music, and I’m sure not going to be listening to AI Christian music.”
“I LOVE PROGRESS AND TOOLS, BUT THIS DOESN’T SIT RIGHT”
The singer elaborated on his concerns in the video’s caption.
“I love progress & tools, but this one just doesn’t sit right!” he wrote.
On-screen text in the video shows Frank saying, “It could just disappear,” referring to AI.
“SOLOMON RAY IS NOW THE BIGGEST NEW VOICE IN GOSPEL MUSIC”
Solomon Ray’s Instagram page, which explicitly identifies the musician as an “AI voice” while indicating that the performer has taken on a persona as an African American man from Mississippi.
It includes a post identifying the artist’s place at the top of the iTunes charts for both songs and albums as “A FIRST FOR ANY AI ARTIST OF ANY GENRE.”
The post states: “Solomon Ray is no longer ‘the AI experiment.’ He is now the biggest new voice in Gospel music — period.”
“The future arrived faster than anyone expected. And his name is Solomon Ray. (All in under 21 days.)”
10% OF SONGS IN TOP-40 CHART ARE AI CREATIONS
Two additional songs by Ray, “Jesus and My Coffee” and “I Got Faith,” are also on the list, meaning that 10% of the songs included in the Top 40 are from an artist created by AI.
Created just four weeks ago on October 28, Ray’s YouTube channel has over 12,000 subscribers and more than one million views.
A total of four albums featuring songs compiled by Ray, including Faithful Soul, are available on YouTube.
Solomon Ray is not to be confused with a rapper of the same name.
“NOTHING IS MORALLY OR IMMORALLY RIGHT OR WRONG”
The AI singer’s creator Christopher Jermaine Townsend responded to Forrest Frank’s video with his own video, thanking Frank for his post and opening a discussion about the use of AI in Christian music.
“Nothing is morally or immorally right or wrong at this point,” he said.
“No one is pulling out Scripture to ban it. It is really more of a preference.”
“You cannot tell somebody’s feelings and impact from music, if it’s authentic or fake or fraudulent.”
“THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF MY CREATIVITY”
“Who am I to say what God will or won’t use to get the message His people need to them,” he added.
“I am just here being an instrument, and this is an extension of my creativity.”
“So, therefore, to me, it’s art. It’s definitely inspired by a Christian.”
“It may not be performed by one and I am not sure why that really matters in the end.”
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