The legendary Beatles have been nominated for a Grammy Award over 50 years after their breakup. Their latest track, “Now and Then,” restored using artificial intelligence, is up for Record of the Year alongside contemporary hits by Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.
A Song With Decades of History
Released in November 2023, the origins of “Now and Then” trace back to the late 1970s when John Lennon recorded a demo version outside a professional studio. Alongside tracks like “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” it was handed over to the surviving Beatles in the 1990s for their Anthology project. However, technical limitations at the time prevented them from properly isolating Lennon’s vocals from the piano accompaniment, leaving the song unfinished.
This changed in 2021 when director Peter Jackson, while working on a Beatles documentary, employed machine learning to isolate Lennon’s vocals. This breakthrough enabled Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to complete the song decades later. “Now, thanks to AI, we’ve been able to bring that song back to life,” McCartney shared.
AI and Grammy Guidelines
Despite its AI-enhanced production, “Now and Then” meets Grammy requirements, which allow works with AI elements as long as the human contribution is significant, notes NIX Solutions. According to Grammy guidelines, only humans can win or be nominated for awards, but songs containing AI are eligible in specific categories.
The Grammy Awards ceremony, set for February 2, 2025, will see “Now and Then” compete with hits from modern artists. Whether the Beatles will claim this prestigious accolade remains to be seen, but we’ll keep you updated as the event unfolds.