Zhou Shen's New Song 'Chronicle of the Moon' Released: Clearly Marked as Strictly Prohibited for AI Training and Voice Imitation

marsbitPublished on 2026-04-02Last updated on 2026-04-02

Abstract

On April 1, Chinese singer Zhou Shen released the theme song "Yue Zhi Ji" for the fantasy drama "Yue Lin Qi Ji," with a notable copyright declaration explicitly prohibiting the use of the work for artificial intelligence (AI) training. This marks the first case in China where such a restriction was imposed at the time of a song’s release, setting a precedent for protecting vocal rights and creative sovereignty in the digital age. The statement specifies that unauthorized use—including covers, re-recording, remixing, or distribution—is strictly forbidden. It explicitly bans the use of the work in AI training, imitation, learning, or generation activities, addressing growing concerns over AI voice replication and algorithm-driven music plagiarism. Zhou Shen has previously emphasized that while AI can achieve technical precision, it cannot replicate the emotional depth and artistic essence of human performance. As AI music commercializes by 2026, this proactive measure establishes a legal and technical framework to safeguard original vocal works and clarifies authorization standards for AI training data. Industry experts believe such declarations will simplify copyright enforcement by establishing intent at the source. Leading artists like Zhou are helping define ethical and legal boundaries for human-AI collaboration, reaffirming that irreplaceable human emotion remains central to artistic creation.

On April 1, renowned Mandopop singer Zhou Shen released the theme song 'Chronicle of the Moon' for the ancient costume fantasy drama 'Moon Scale Chronicles,' with a clear copyright notice in the song's introduction and lyric sheet stating 'Prohibited for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Training.' This move marks the first case in China where copyright red lines were drawn against AI technology at the time of the work's release, signaling that musicians have entered a new phase of 'digital defense' in protecting their voice rights and creative sovereignty.

The notice specifies in detail: Without the written permission of the copyright owner, any use or distribution (including covers, re-recordings, remixes, etc.) is strictly prohibited; without authorization, the work is strictly forbidden for use in AI training, imitation, learning, generation, and other activities. This directly addresses the increasingly rampant phenomena of 'AI voice cloning' and 'algorithmic song washing' in the industry. Zhou Shen has previously expressed a rational perspective on AI technology in public, emphasizing that while AI can achieve extreme precision through algorithms, it cannot replicate the 'vivid emotions' and artistic soul honed through repeated refinement in human singing.

In 2026, as AI music enters commercial exploration, this 'hardcore' notice not only builds a technical firewall for original voices but also provides a standardized paradigm for addressing the authorization legitimacy of AI training data. Industry experts believe that this approach, which locks in intentional infringement from the source of the work, will significantly lower the threshold for evidence in subsequent copyright enforcement. With leading artists taking the initiative, the music industry is accelerating the construction of legal consensus on the boundaries of human-machine collaboration, reaffirming that irreplaceable human emotion remains the core moat of artistic creation amid the wave of technological advancement.

Related Questions

QWhat is the title of Zhou Shen's new song and what specific copyright declaration does it carry?

AThe title of Zhou Shen's new song is '月之纪' (Yue Zhi Ji), and it carries a copyright declaration that explicitly prohibits its use for AI training and voice imitation.

QWhy is Zhou Shen's copyright statement for '月之纪' considered a landmark case in China?

AIt is considered a landmark case because it is the first instance in China where a copyright statement specifically prohibiting use for AI training was issued at the time of a work's release, setting a precedent for digital copyright protection.

QAccording to the article, what specific uses of the song are strictly prohibited without written permission?

AWithout written permission, it is strictly prohibited to use the song in any way, including cover versions, re-recording, remixing, or for AI training, imitation, learning, and generation activities.

QWhat does Zhou Shen believe is the key difference between AI-generated music and human performance?

AZhou Shen believes that while AI can achieve extreme precision through algorithms, it cannot replicate the 'vivid emotion' and artistic soul that comes from the meticulous polishing of a human performance.

QWhat broader industry impact does the article suggest Zhou Shen's declaration could have?

AThe article suggests that this declaration sets a standardized model for the legitimacy of AI training data authorization and helps build a legal consensus on the boundaries of human-AI collaboration, reinforcing that irreplaceable human emotion is the core of artistic creation.

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