While Frank Ocean keeps waiting for a BLONDE successor, a scammer is already making money with fake leaks.
Supposed Frank Ocean tracks that have been offered for sale on various sites are currently doing the rounds on the Internet. But now it’s clear: the songs didn’t come from the R’n’B singer’s pen at all, but were created with the help of artificial intelligence and put on the net by a scammer. The scammer is said to have already made around 13,000 Canadian dollars with the pieces.
“mourningassasin”, as the fraudster is called on the Internet, presented the alleged Ocean Leaks in forums where music that is to be released soon is traded. Many Frank Ocean fans have apparently been fooled as the songs appear to be very similar to the real Ocean tracks. You can now listen to some of the AI songs on YouTube.
According to t3n, the purchase price for the tracks is between 3,000 and 4,000 Canadian dollars. So only three or four songs could have been sold on the forums.
The music industry against artificial intelligence
At least since the AI-generated Drake Weeknd feature “Heart On My Sleeve”, which went viral in April this year, the music industry has been on the alert. Many more artificial intelligence songs popped up on social media, most notably on TikTok. Some were later uploaded to the popular streaming platforms – but they quickly disappeared from there. The big labels, led by Universal, had launched a major campaign to ban illegal music, which clearly violates copyright, from the streaming platforms.
At this point in time, it is hardly foreseeable how labels and rights holders will be able to deal with such fakes that cannot be identified as such when (rapidly) listening.
Frank Ocean keeps fans waiting
It’s no wonder that fans of his music are getting impatient. It’s been seven years since the 35-year-old’s current album, BLONDE. In addition, Ocean was able to deliver good news at his controversial Coachella appearance: A new record is in the works, but when a publication can be expected remains unclear. The Californian released his debut CHANNEL ORANGE in 2012. He is one of the most popular and at the same time most enigmatic figures in the current pop and R’n’B scene.