K-pop music label Hybe, home to BTS, uses AI to release a song by MidNatt in 6 languages
- BTS’ label Hybe has released a song by K-pop singer MidNatt, and used AI to mix his voice with those of native speakers of five other languages
- Hybe says the simultaneous six-language release is a first, and the label plans to make some of the technology available to others
In a dimly lit recording studio in Seoul, producers at the K-pop music label that brought the world hit boy group BTS are using artificial intelligence to meld a South Korean singer’s voice with those of native speakers in five other languages.
The technology enabled Hybe, South Korea’s largest music label, to release a track by singer MidNatt in six languages – Korean, English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese.
Some K-pop singers have released songs in English and Japanese in addition to their native Korean, but applying the new technology for a simultaneous six-language release is a global first, according to Hybe, and could pave the way for it to be used by more popular acts.
“We would first listen to the reaction, the voice of the fans, then decide what our next steps should be,” says Chung Wooyong, the head of Hybe’s interactive media arm in an interview at the company’s studio.
Lee Hyun, 40, known as MidNatt, who speaks only limited English and Chinese in addition to Korean, recorded the song “Masquerade” in each language.