September 2025
As reported by Billboard, Hallwood Media has signed a $3 million deal with an AI artist, Xania Monet.
But as is almost always the case, behind the virtual artist stands a real author.
Talisah Jones, a 31-year-old design studio owner, has been writing lyrics for many years. She sang in church as a child. In her creative process, she used Suno and live-recorded elements, and plans to collaborate with other producers in the future.
Talisah doesn’t possess unique vocal abilities. She probably wouldn’t have been able to create the arrangement herself. She could have found a producer and singer and recorded the music without AI, but that would have put her in a position of dependence on other people. Her music would have had a certain “face,” and that would have been someone else’s face.
With Suno, Talisah realized her creative vision and maintained her identity from start to finish, without compromising with others. How many songwriters don’t have this opportunity because they are forced to sell their creativity to others in the industry? They don’t have a chance to reach listeners directly and gain attention on a relatively level playing field.
Talisah signed a $3 million contract. Major labels were involved in the negotiations and even made generous offers, but ultimately the contract went to Hallwood Media.
Some interpreted this as the major labels’ unwillingness to sign an AI artist. But far less attention is paid to the long-term viability of such an artist. The contract will have to be recouped through future results.
Many have managed to write chart-topping music without using AI. But there are no guarantees that this can be repeated. It won’t take long to see what Xania Monet is all about and whether we can expect more multi-million dollar contracts.