The rise and fall of ‘virtual’ rapper FN Meka

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the claims of racism that saw 'virtual' rapper FN Meka dropped by Universal's Capitol label, and the controversy surrounding the discovery that digital processes have been used by a supposedly analogue reissues label for more than a decade. STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK • Capitol drops ‘virtual’ rapper FN Meka after claims of racism • Human voice of ‘AI’ rapper FN Meka says he was cut out of the project • FN Meka spokesperson Anthony Martini quits project, admits there was less AI involved than claimed • Audiophile label sued over misleading statements regarding its mastering process ALSO MENTIONED • Michael Jackson’s nephew says Harry Styles cannot be the ‘new king of pop’ • Capitol Drops ‘Virtual Rapper’ FN Meka After Backlash Over Stereotypes (New York Times) • This robot rapper and 9m following on TikTok. The company that created him thinks traditional A&R is 'inefficient and unreliable' (Music Business Worldwide, April 2021) MORE FROM CMU • Upcoming CMU webinars • Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon • Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin • Listen to the full Setlist theme tune