Universal Music uses ethically trained AI to give Brenda Lee’s Christmas classic a Spanish reworking.

Universal Music Group (UMG) has given Brenda Lee’s holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” a twist with a new Spanish version created using AI. With over 65 years of history, this track is a festive staple, but now it’s reaching an even broader audience.

UMG collaborated with SoundLabs to produce this version, which uses an AI voice model to reimagine Lee’s vocals in Spanish, while staying impressively true to her distinct sound. SoundLabs used its AI tool, MicDrop, to train an AI model on Brenda Lee’s voice, allowing it to “sing” in Spanish. The AI captures her unique tone and vocal style, creating a rendition that feels authentic to her original performance.

Brenda Lee herself was thrilled with the outcome, especially since she’d performed in several languages but had never recorded this particular song in Spanish. “Throughout my career, I performed and recorded many songs in different languages, but I never recorded ‘Rockin’’ in Spanish, which I would have loved to do. To have this out now is pretty incredible and I’m happy to introduce the song to fans in a new way.”

UMG sees AI as a way to expand the reach of timeless music across languages and cultures, and they’re committed to artist involvement in these projects. Bruce Resnikoff, CEO of UMG’s catalog division, views this project as a pioneering step toward using artist-approved AI models to make music more accessible worldwide. Cindy Mabe, UMG Nashville’s CEO, remarked on how Brenda Lee’s voice defines Christmas for many listeners, and she’s excited to share this new version with Spanish-speaking fans.

This project also aligns with UMG’s support for the NO FAKES Act, which aims to protect artists from unauthorised AI reproductions of their voices. Brenda Lee is among the artists supporting the act, emphasising that artists should control how their voices are used by AI. UMG’s approach highlights the potential for responsible AI use in music, encouraging ethical development that respects the artist’s input. This is an important point for UMG to make, amidst the current unrest around the unlicensed training of AI on artists’ musical works. This Spanish version of Brenda Lee’s classic was “created responsibly with the artist’s involvement and authorisation”, according to Universal.

Used carefully and thoughtfully, AI doesn’t have to be damaging or an unsettling cause for concern. If you’re an independent artist, AI could soon give you the power to reach global audiences without losing your unique sound. Imagine re-recording your songs in multiple languages effortlessly, connecting with listeners across cultures, without compromising your sound. AI advancements like this Spanish version of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree are just the beginning. With ethical, artist-approved AI, you’ll have the chance to engage fans worldwide, helping your music travel further while staying true to your voice.