Virtual influencers are becoming popstars in the music industry. These digital characters, like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela, have won Grammy Awards and performed holographic concerts. Noonoouri, created by designer Joerg Zuber, recently signed a record deal with Warner Music, making her the first avatar artist for the label. While AI tools helped create her vocals, Warner Music says AI played a small role. Some people worry about AI’s impact on music creation and if it will copy artists’ sound, style, or image.

Warner Music’s Marec Lerche says virtual influencers like Noonoouri give labels more room to experiment and be flexible. They can be in multiple places at once and easily change their style. Noonoouri, as a digital character, has more opportunities than human artists. Lil Miquela started releasing music in 2017 and has millions of views on YouTube.

Real-life musicians might feel uneasy about virtual influencers becoming popstars. They already compete for money in a music industry dominated by streaming. Musicologist Dr. Shara Rambarran thinks virtual influencers will add more competition for musicians who want to show their own music. But she doesn’t think virtual influencers will take over completely. There will always be space for everyone.

Noonoouri is not like other artists. She was made using motion capture and advanced graphics, so she can dance, sing, and model virtually. Noonoouri has lots of followers on Instagram, a modeling contract, and a customizable appearance. Her creator, Joerg Zuber, calls her a “lifetime project” and says she was made to talk about global issues in a lifelike, 3D way. To make her unique voice, Zuber combined his own vocals with a singer’s melodic track and used algorithms to match and fix the singer’s voice.

Some artists, like Grimes and David Guetta, like using AI for music production. But others, like Sting and Ed Sheeran, don’t like it. Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, CEO of UK Music, thinks AI is exciting for artists and producers. But he says it’s important to understand the rules and laws to make sure AI helps human creativity instead of hurting it.

In conclusion, virtual influencers becoming popstars in the music industry is a growing trend. While some people worry about AI’s role in music creation, virtual influencers like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela let labels experiment and be flexible. But they might make it harder for real-life musicians. Even so, virtual influencers won’t take over completely. There’s space for both virtual and real artists.

Original news source: Can AI popstars make it in the real world? (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group with a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and then work together to create a concise summary of the main points. After a designated amount of time, have each group present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the students form pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a list of questions related to the article. Instruct the students to discuss the questions and share their opinions with each other. After a designated amount of time, have a class discussion where students can share their opinions and thoughts on the topic.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and draw a picture representing one of the words. The rest of the team members must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly earns a point. Continue until all the words have been drawn and guessed.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Instruct each group to create a list of pros and cons related to the topic of virtual influencers in the music industry. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their lists with the class. Encourage a class discussion where students can debate the pros and cons and share their own opinions.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Instruct each pair to discuss and make predictions about the future of virtual influencers in the music industry. They should consider factors such as the impact of AI, the competition with real-life musicians, and the potential for growth in this industry. After a designated amount of time, have each pair share their predictions with the class. Encourage a class discussion where students can compare and analyze their predictions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are some examples of virtual influencers in the music industry?
2. What recent achievement did Noonoouri have in her music career?
3. How does Warner Music benefit from having virtual influencers like Noonoouri?
4. How long has Lil Miquela been releasing music and where does she have millions of views?
5. How might real-life musicians feel about virtual influencers becoming popstars?
6. According to Dr. Shara Rambarran, what impact will virtual influencers have on musicians?
7. What makes Noonoouri different from other artists?
8. How do some artists feel about using AI for music production?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Virtual influencers are becoming popstars in the music industry. These digital characters, like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela, have won Grammy Awards and performed holographic concerts. Noonoouri, created by designer Joerg Zuber, recently signed a record deal with Warner Music, making her the first (1)______ artist for the label. While AI tools helped create her vocals, Warner Music says AI played a (2)______ role. Some (3)______ worry about AI’s impact on music creation and if it will copy artists’ sound, (4)______, or image.

Warner Music’s Marec Lerche says virtual influencers like Noonoouri give labels more room to experiment and be flexible. They can be in (5)______ places at once and easily (6)______ their style. Noonoouri, as a digital character, has more opportunities than human artists. Lil Miquela started releasing (7)______ in 2017 and has millions of views on YouTube.

Real-life musicians might feel uneasy about virtual influencers becoming popstars. They already compete for money in a music industry dominated by streaming. Musicologist Dr. (8)______ Rambarran thinks virtual influencers will add more competition for musicians who want to show their own music. But she doesn’t think virtual influencers will take over completely. There will always be space for everyone.

Noonoouri is not like other (9)______. She was made using (10)______ capture and advanced graphics, so she can dance, sing, and model virtually. Noonoouri has lots of followers on Instagram, a modeling contract, and a customizable appearance. Her creator, Joerg Zuber, calls her a “lifetime project” and says she was made to talk about global issues in a lifelike, 3D way. To make her unique (11)______, Zuber combined his own vocals with a singer’s melodic (12)______ and used algorithms to match and fix the singer’s voice.

Some artists, like Grimes and David Guetta, like using AI for music production. But others, like Sting and Ed Sheeran, don’t like it. Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, CEO of UK Music, thinks AI is (13)______ for artists and (14)______. But he says it’s important to understand the rules and laws to make sure AI helps human creativity instead of hurting it.

In conclusion, virtual influencers becoming popstars in the music industry is a growing trend. While some people worry about AI’s role in music creation, virtual influencers like (15)______ and Lil Miquela let labels (16)______ and be flexible. But they might make it harder for real-life musicians. Even so, virtual influencers won’t take over completely. There’s space for both virtual and real artists.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a virtual influencer?
2. How would you feel if virtual influencers became more popular than real-life musicians? Why?
3. Do you think virtual influencers will completely take over the music industry? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are the advantages of virtual influencers for music labels?
5. Do you like the idea of virtual influencers having the ability to change their style easily? Why or why not?
6. How do you think real-life musicians might feel about virtual influencers becoming popstars?
7. What do you think are the challenges that real-life musicians face in a music industry dominated by streaming?
8. How do you think virtual influencers will impact musicians who want to show their own music?
9. What do you think are the unique opportunities that virtual influencers have compared to human artists?
10. How would you feel if your favorite musician started using AI for music production? Why?
11. Why do you think some artists like using AI for music production while others don’t?
12. Do you think AI helps or hurts human creativity in the music industry? Why?
13. How do you think virtual influencers like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela can talk about global issues in a lifelike way?
14. What do you think are the benefits of using AI to create a unique voice for virtual influencers?
15. What is your opinion on the growing trend of virtual influencers in the music industry?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. virtual
2. influencers
3. popstars
4. music
5. industry
6. AI
7. artists
8. competition

Meanings:
(a) People who create and perform music
(b) When people try to be better than others
(c) Sounds and melodies that people listen to
(d) Artificial intelligence, technology that can think and learn
(e) The business of making and selling music
(f) Famous singers or performers
(g) Not real, existing only in a computer
(h) People who have a lot of influence on others
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who are Noonoouri and Lil Miquela?
(a) Real-life musicians
(b) Music producers
(c) Virtual influencers
(d) Grammy Award winners

2. Which record label recently signed Noonoouri?
(a) Warner Music
(b) Sony Music
(c) Universal Music
(d) Capitol Records

3. How do virtual influencers like Noonoouri give labels more room to experiment?
(a) They can be in multiple places at once and easily change their style.
(b) They have millions of views on YouTube.
(c) They compete for money in the music industry.
(d) They have customizable appearances.

4. What do some real-life musicians worry about regarding virtual influencers?
(a) They will take over completely.
(b) They will dominate the music industry.
(c) They will copy artists’ sound, style, or image.
(d) They will compete for money in the music industry.

5. How was Noonoouri made?
(a) Using AI tools to create her vocals
(b) Using motion capture and advanced graphics
(c) Using algorithms to match and fix the singer’s voice
(d) Using a singer’s melodic track

6. Which artists like using AI for music production?
(a) Sting and Ed Sheeran
(b) Grimes and David Guetta
(c) Noonoouri and Lil Miquela
(d) Marec Lerche and Joerg Zuber

7. What does Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, CEO of UK Music, think about AI in music production?
(a) He thinks it’s important to understand the rules and laws.
(b) He thinks it helps human creativity.
(c) He thinks it hurts human creativity.
(d) He thinks it’s exciting for artists and producers.

8. What is the conclusion about virtual influencers in the music industry?
(a) It is a growing trend, and virtual influencers will take over completely.
(b) It is a growing trend, but there is no space for real artists.
(c) It is a growing trend, and AI’s role in music creation is a concern.
(d) It is a growing trend, but real-life musicians might face more competition.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Lil Miquela hasn’t been releasing music since 2017 and has few views on YouTube.
2. AI tools were used to create Noonoouri’s vocals, but Warner Music says AI played a small role.
3. Noonoouri recently signed a record deal with Warner Music, making her the first avatar artist for the label.
4. Some people are concerned about AI’s impact on music creation, such as copying artists’ sound, style, or image.
5. Virtual influencers restrict labels from experimenting and being flexible, according to Warner Music’s Marec Lerche.
6. Virtual influencers like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela are not gaining popularity in the music industry.
7. Real-life musicians might feel uneasy about virtual influencers becoming popstars, as they already face competition in the streaming-dominated music industry.
8. Virtual influencers like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela will completely take over the music industry, as there won’t always be space for both virtual and real artists.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Who are some examples of virtual influencers in the music industry?
2. What record label recently signed Noonoouri?
3. How do virtual influencers like Noonoouri give labels more flexibility?
4. How do real-life musicians feel about virtual influencers becoming popstars?
5. How was Noonoouri created and what makes her unique?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are some examples of virtual influencers in the music industry?
Some examples of virtual influencers in the music industry are Noonoouri and Lil Miquela.

2. What recent achievement did Noonoouri have in her music career?
Noonoouri recently signed a record deal with Warner Music, making her the first avatar artist for the label.

3. How does Warner Music benefit from having virtual influencers like Noonoouri?
Warner Music benefits from having virtual influencers like Noonoouri because they give the label more room to experiment and be flexible. They can be in multiple places at once and easily change their style.

4. How long has Lil Miquela been releasing music and where does she have millions of views?
Lil Miquela has been releasing music since 2017 and has millions of views on YouTube.

5. How might real-life musicians feel about virtual influencers becoming popstars?
Real-life musicians might feel uneasy about virtual influencers becoming popstars because they already compete for money in a music industry dominated by streaming.

6. According to Dr. Shara Rambarran, what impact will virtual influencers have on musicians?
According to Dr. Shara Rambarran, virtual influencers will add more competition for musicians who want to show their own music. However, she doesn’t think virtual influencers will take over completely.

7. What makes Noonoouri different from other artists?
Noonoouri is different from other artists because she is a digital character made using motion capture and advanced graphics. She can dance, sing, and model virtually.

8. How do some artists feel about using AI for music production?
Some artists, like Grimes and David Guetta, like using AI for music production. However, others, like Sting and Ed Sheeran, don’t like it.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) avatar
(2) small
(3) people
(4) style
(5) multiple
(6) change
(7) music
(8) Shara
(9) artists
(10) motion
(11) voice
(12) track
(13) exciting
(14) producers
(15) Noonoouri
(16) experiment
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. virtual
Answer: (g) Not real, existing only in a computer

2. influencers
Answer: (h) People who have a lot of influence on others

3. popstars
Answer: (f) Famous singers or performers

4. music
Answer: (c) Sounds and melodies that people listen to

5. industry
Answer: (e) The business of making and selling music

6. AI
Answer: (d) Artificial intelligence, technology that can think and learn

7. artists
Answer: (a) People who create and perform music

8. competition
Answer: (b) When people try to be better than others
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who are Noonoouri and Lil Miquela?
Answer: (c) Virtual influencers

2. Which record label recently signed Noonoouri?
Answer: (a) Warner Music

3. How do virtual influencers like Noonoouri give labels more room to experiment?
Answer: (a) They can be in multiple places at once and easily change their style.

4. What do some real-life musicians worry about regarding virtual influencers?
Answer: (c) They will copy artists’ sound, style, or image.

5. How was Noonoouri made?
Answer: (b) Using motion capture and advanced graphics

6. Which artists like using AI for music production?
Answer: (b) Grimes and David Guetta

7. What does Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, CEO of UK Music, think about AI in music production?
Answer: (d) He thinks it’s exciting for artists and producers.

8. What is the conclusion about virtual influencers in the music industry?
Answer: (d) It is a growing trend, but real-life musicians might face more competition.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Lil Miquela hasn’t been releasing music since 2017 and has few views on YouTube. (Answer: False)
2. AI tools were used to create Noonoouri’s vocals, but Warner Music says AI played a small role. (Answer: True)
3. Noonoouri recently signed a record deal with Warner Music, making her the first avatar artist for the label. (Answer: True)
4. Some people are concerned about AI’s impact on music creation, such as copying artists’ sound, style, or image. (Answer: True)
5. Virtual influencers restrict labels from experimenting and being flexible, according to Warner Music’s Marec Lerche. (Answer: False)
6. Virtual influencers like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela are not gaining popularity in the music industry. (Answer: False)
7. Real-life musicians might feel uneasy about virtual influencers becoming popstars, as they already face competition in the streaming-dominated music industry. (Answer: True)
8. Virtual influencers like Noonoouri and Lil Miquela will completely take over the music industry, as there won’t always be space for both virtual and real artists. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧