The entertainment industry is witnessing a rapid spread of AI video technology, and the latest partnership between Runway and Musixmatch is set to revolutionize the music industry. Runway, a New York City-based startup, has teamed up with Musixmatch, a successful Italian music tech startup, to provide musicians and artists with access to Gen-2, Runway’s latest AI video generating model.
This partnership will enable over a million musicians using Musixmatch to create AI videos that are synced to the lyrics of their songs. The aim is to speed up the creation of “lyrics videos,” which are popular videos that display a song’s lyrics in real-time with music over ambient visuals. This new collaboration will allow artists to bring their songs to life through dynamic video content that aligns with their creative visions.
Already, some artists have been given access to Gen-2 through Musixmatch. Atlanta trip-hop outfit Earthgang created a lyrics video for their song “Osmosis” using Runway’s AI and Musixmatch’s lyrics syncing software.
Runway CEO Cristobal Valenzuela expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that it will help artists expand how they express their creative vision through video and forge deeper connections with their listeners and audiences worldwide. Marco Paglia, Musixmatch’s Chief of Product, highlighted the innovative nature of AI in music creation, stating that it provides songwriters and musicians with a new assistant for making videos.
This partnership comes as many high-profile artists are already embracing AI for visual content creation. A$AP Rocky, Madonna, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), and 30 Seconds to Mars have all used AI video generation programs for their music videos or concert backing videos. Rapper Nicki Minaj also faced controversy over her use of AI-generated still images to promote her album.
Runway’s expansion is not limited to this partnership. The company has also partnered with other software providers, such as Canva, to integrate its AI video generation models into their programs. This move exposes Runway’s tools to a wider audience. The startup offers a limited number of free video generations, followed by a monthly subscription starting at $12 per month.
While Runway has been viewed as the gold standard in AI video generation, it faces increasing competition. OpenAI recently demoed its own model, Sora, which produces even more photorealistic and smoother videos. However, access to Sora is currently limited to OpenAI employees and designated creative partners. Another competitor, Pika, has been adding new audio generation features to its AI video generation platform.
With all these competitors and insurgents in the AI video generation space, Runway is playing defense. Its partnerships, including the one with Musixmatch, may give it a competitive edge and potentially allow the introduction of new features for its video generating AI software.
In conclusion, the partnership between Runway and Musixmatch is set to revolutionize the music industry by enabling musicians to generate AI lyrics videos. This move aligns with the growing trend of using AI in music visuals, as many high-profile artists have already embraced this technology. Runway’s continued expansion and partnerships are crucial for maintaining its competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry.
