Additional Coverage:
- The most downloaded country song in the US right now was made by AI (the-independent.com)
In a surprising twist for the music industry, an artificial intelligence-generated song has not only made waves but has also topped the charts for the first time in history.
Country artist Breaking Rust, with the hit single “Walk My Walk,” has secured the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart for two consecutive weeks. However, the revelation quickly followed: the raspy-voiced singer behind the vague, defiant lyrics wasn’t born at all.
Breaking Rust, boasting over two million monthly listeners on Spotify and eight streamable songs, is credited to Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, a figure whose humanity remains unconfirmed, as first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Taylor’s only known digital presence is linked to Breaking Rust and another AI music venture, Defbeatsai, which disseminates explicit AI-generated content across social media.
A glance at Breaking Rust’s Instagram page showcases AI-generated videos accompanying its songs. These visuals depict men in cowboy hats engaged in various activities, including lifting weights, performing push-ups in the snow, and walking down the middle of a highway – you know, just your average cowboy pursuits.
Despite the non-human origin, fans have expressed strong opinions. One YouTube user emphatically declared, “I’m sorry, I can’t help what I like.
I LIKE THE SONG, NO MATTER WHO CREATED IT!” Another fan on Instagram commented, “I don’t know if this is a real guy but his songs are seriously some of my favorite in life.”
Some listeners appear entirely unaware of the artist’s AI nature, with comments ranging from requests for Breaking Rust to tour in Australia and London to compliments on the song’s vocals and lyrical depth.
While “Walk My Walk” holds the title for the most downloaded country song in America, it’s not the genre’s most popular overall. Morgan Wallen leads Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with “I Got Better,” and Cody Johnson tops streaming platforms.
Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart tracks paid digital downloads from platforms like iTunes and AmazonMP3. “Walk My Walk” has been on this chart for three weeks.
The Billboard bulletin from October 6 indicated that the top song on the Country Digital Song Sales chart sold 3,000 copies. At $0.99 per download on iTunes, a single individual with approximately $3,000 could significantly influence an artist’s ranking.
Breaking Rust isn’t alone in the AI-driven country music scene. Another AI-generated musician, Cain Walker, is also making a strong showing on the Country Digital Song Sales chart with songs in the third, ninth, and eleventh positions.
Billboard has referred to these acts as “virtual acts” in its weekly bulletin. The Independent’s request for comment from Billboard was not immediately returned.
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- The most downloaded country song in the US right now was made by AI (the-independent.com)