The rise of Xania Monet, the first AI-generated music artist to sign a multimillion-dollar record deal, marks a watershed moment for the music industry, stirring up debate about creativity, ownership and the meaning of artistry in an AI age.
Who is Xania Monet?
Xania Monet is the persona born from the collaboration between Mississippi poet and designer Telisha "Nikki" Jones and the AI platform Suno. While Monet’s image, vocals, and production are AI-generated, Jones retains creative ownership by writing the lyrics and shaping Monet's catalogue. Within months, her debut single “How Was I Supposed to Know” topped the R&B Digital Song Sales chart and racked up millions of streams, with Monet’s five-song catalogue generating over $50,000 in revenue.
The $3 Million Record Deal
The big news landed in September 2025, when Danny Jacobson at Hallwood Media signed the AI-generated artist to a record deal reportedly worth $3 million after a competitive bidding war. With nearly 10 million streams, 465,000 monthly Spotify listeners, and hundreds of thousands of TikTok fans, Monet has entered the mainstream, beyond being just a TikTok novelty.
Artists and Industry Reaction
Not everyone is celebrating. Grammy artists like Kehlani and SZA have voiced outrage, arguing that AI music devalues authentic human creation and that it exploits the labour of artists whose works are used, often without permission, to train AI models. Kehlani’s critiques cite unfairness for those “who have worked hard for, trained for, and sacrificed for their art,” while SZA raises environmental concerns linked to AI’s energy use.
On the flip side, influential producer Timbaland has praised Xania Monet as “killing it”, highlighting the genre’s shift toward embracing AI-powered acts.
Legal Storms Surrounding AI Music
The business model behind AI music is under scrutiny as well. The Recording Industry Association of America has filed lawsuits against platforms like Suno, alleging copyright infringement for “stream-ripping”, using material from artists like Mariah Carey and The Temptations to train AI models without authorisation. Similar cases have been raised in other creative spaces, including lawsuits from The New York Times against OpenAI, and Disney and Universal against Midjourney over film and character usage.
Who Profits and Who Should?
Monet’s record deal shines a spotlight on unresolved issues of ownership and profit. Jones owns the rights to Monet, with her manager and producers earning a share, but questions remain: should Suno (which created Monet’s voice and likeness) also get a cut? And, as AI-generated artistry proliferates, who controls monetisation, royalties, and copyright? For now, streaming platforms treat AI tracks like any other music, but future policies may evolve.
Why It Matters
Xania Monet’s ascent isn’t just a headline; it’s a turning point. AI could further democratise music, giving opportunities to creators without conventional resources or connections. But as stardom is granted to “virtual” musicians, industry veterans worry about the dilution of artistry and loss of livable careers for real artists. Academics are proposing new royalty regimes, while the industry wonders whether record deals like Monet’s are the exception or the future.
The New Era of AI-Assisted Artistry
Whether Monet’s career heralds a golden age for hybrid human-AI collaboration or collapses under the weight of legal, ethical, and cultural backlash, one thing is clear: audiences are listening, and labels are watching consumer trends with keen interest. The future of music is no longer strictly human or machine, but a creative convergence of both.
The future of music just became the present.
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