YouTube has introduced a new AI-powered tool that allows content creators to remix songs into entirely new styles, thus offering a new way to soundtrack Shorts videos. Currently in its experimental phase, the feature is accessible to a select group of users and is built on YouTube’s Dream Track technology.
The remixer enables creators to transform licensed songs into 30-second restyled tracks by entering text-based prompts that specify genre, mood, or other musical attributes. A pop anthem can now be reimagined as a reggaeton beat, or a classical tune might take on the energy of thrash metal. YouTube assures that all remixes will maintain clear attribution to the original song, including visible labels noting the AI involvement.
“If you’re a creator in the experiment group, you can select an eligible song > describe how you want to restyle it > then generate a unique 30-second soundtrack to use in your Short,” the company stated in its announcement. These tracks will link back to the original audio, ensuring proper acknowledgment of the source material.
The initiative builds on YouTube’s Dream Track, which debuted last year and uses Google DeepMind’s Lyria model to generate music based on text prompts and prerecorded vocal emulations of artists like Charli XCX, John Legend, Demi Lovato, and Sia. While Dream Track initially focused on creating entirely new songs, this update shifts its focus to remixing existing tracks, broadening its use case for creators seeking diverse audio options.
The project’s rollout is limited to songs made available through partnerships with select music labels. Details on the extent of the music catalogue and participating record labels remain unclear, but YouTube has reportedly been in talks with major players, including Sony, Warner, and Universal, to secure broader licensing agreements.
This development brings questions about copyright and artist participation, though. Earlier reports suggested that YouTube has offered financial incentives to labels to encourage collaboration on AI-related projects. Still, some industry leaders have expressed reservations about the implications of AI use in music creation.
