The Beatles have made history once again by winning their eighth competitive Grammy Award, this time for their 2023 track “Now and Then,” which is notable for being the first song to receive a Grammy nomination with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
The honour was bestowed upon them during the Grammy Awards, where they triumphed in the Best Rock Performance category, surpassing contenders such as Green Day, Pearl Jam, The Black Keys, Idles, and St. Vincent.
“Now and Then” is a unique piece that originated from a demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s. In the mid-1990s, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison contributed to the song with the intention of including it in The Beatles Anthology project. However, due to technological constraints at the time, they were unable to separate Lennon’s vocals and piano from the original low-fidelity recording, which left the song unreleased until now.
In 2021, McCartney and Starr were able to finalise “Now and Then” with assistance from filmmaker Peter Jackson and his sound team. They utilised advanced machine-learning technology—a form of AI that employs algorithms to analyse audio data—to isolate and enhance different elements of Lennon’s original recording.
This method is distinct from generative AI technologies that create new music imitating an artist’s style. Upon its release, the song faced some criticism and confusion regarding AI’s role in its production.
“To be clear, nothing has been artificially or synthetically created. It’s all real and we all play on it,” McCartney stated in 2023, addressing concerns about AI’s involvement in the song’s development. He emphasised that they merely cleaned up existing recordings, a process that has been ongoing for years.
At the Grammy ceremony, Sean Ono Lennon accepted the award on behalf of The Beatles. He praised his father’s legacy and encouraged listeners to share The Beatles’ music with younger generations.