First AI-Assisted Grammy Nominated Song: ‘Now and Then’ by The Beatles

• Grammy Nominations for AI-Assisted Song: “Now and Then,” released by The Beatles in 2023, has been nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This is the first time an AI-assisted track has received Grammy recognition, reflecting the increasing acceptance of AI in music production.
• AI’s Role in Song Creation: The production used AI-based “stem separation” technology to clean up a decades-old demo recorded by John Lennon, allowing his isolated vocal track to be used in the final recording. This form of AI helps separate audio tracks, removing noise and isolating specific elements, which is particularly useful for remastering archival recordings.
• Stem Separation vs. Generative AI: Contrary to some fan assumptions, the AI used in “Now and Then” was not generative or deepfake technology. Instead, it enhanced the clarity of Lennon’s original vocal without artificially generating new audio content. This type of AI application is considered less controversial than generative AI, which can mimic or replicate artists’ voices.
• AI and the Recording Academy’s Position: AI’s role in music has been a contentious issue for the Recording Academy. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has actively engaged industry stakeholders, including tech firms, streaming services, and artists, in discussions about the potential Grammy eligibility of AI-assisted music. This was partly spurred by Ghostwriter’s controversial AI song “Heart on My Sleeve,” which deepfaked voices of popular artists Drake and The Weeknd.
• Ghostwriter’s Grammy Eligibility: Ghostwriter’s song “Heart on My Sleeve,” a viral AI-produced track using voice models of Drake and The Weeknd, sparked debates on AI’s role in music awards. Although Ghostwriter’s team submitted the song for Grammy consideration, only a version stripped of AI-modeled voices was deemed eligible for songwriting categories. The AI-driven version of the song was ultimately ineligible, underscoring the Academy’s cautious stance on generative AI in music production.
• Historical Milestone for The Beatles: “Now and Then” is The Beatles’ first Grammy nomination in decades and the fourth time they’ve been nominated for Record of the Year. Previous nominations in this category were for “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Hey Jude,” and “Let It Be,” but they have yet to win this specific award.

Why This Matters:

The Grammy nominations for “Now and Then” symbolize a landmark in the use of AI technology in mainstream music, opening the door for more AI-assisted projects to gain industry recognition. This milestone suggests that, while the Recording Academy remains cautious about generative AI and unauthorized deepfakes, there is growing acceptance of AI as a tool for enhancing and preserving music. It sets a precedent that could lead to broader use of AI in music restoration and production, with implications for how legacy artists’ work is preserved and presented in the future.