K-Pop Revolution! The Evolving Music Industry with AI Technology: Hope and Controversy Demonstrated by Big Ocean and AI Voice Clones

1. The "Next Ocean" Chosen by the "Unheard" Idol

Debuting in 2024 as the "world's first hearing-impaired K-Pop group," Big Ocean consists of three members (PJ, Jisuk, and Changyeon), each with different hearing impairments. They have been performing on stage using vibration devices and sign language-type in-ear monitors. Their latest single, "Bucket Hat," was unveiled at the UN "AI for Good" Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, showcasing an AI-synthesized vocal as an "additional voice" to an audience of over 2,000.K-VIBE

2. Supertone's "Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Voice"

The core technology is developed by HYBE's subsidiary, Supertone, known as "Controllable Voice Conversion (CVC)". The algorithm analyzes singing voices into ① timbre ② pronunciation ③ pitch ④ accent, extracting only the perfect English pronunciation of the guide vocal and blending it with the members' timbre. "It supplements English articulation while preserving the unique voice," the company explains on LinkedIn.Music Business Worldwide

The foundation of CVC is the large-scale model NANSY, capable of extracting any speaker characteristics from a million hours of trained voice data. Supertone CEO Lee Kyog stated, "The technology breaks through physical and technical limitations and supports new artistic challenges."Music Business Worldwide

3. Debut on the International Stage and Media Reactions

A UN official praised it as a "performance symbolizing the social impact of AI voice through deep learning." Korean Yonhap reported that it "breaks the stereotype that even those with hearing impairments can become idols."K-VIBE

Music Business Worldwide analyzed it as "an example of how K-Pop quickly adopts AI technology as a means to transcend borders and languages." Furthermore, Big Ocean's recognition is rapidly expanding, being selected for Forbes "Asia 30 Under 30" and Billboard's "Rookie of the Month."Music Business Worldwide

4. Praise and Concerns Swirling on Social Media

However, polarized debates have arisen online.

• Supporters

  • "Tears at the moment when technology helped realize dreams despite disabilities."

  • "AI is the next 'accessibility' after translation tools."

• Critics

  • On Reddit, a post stating "It's creepy to have AI 'replace' the chorus" garnered over 1,000 upvotes.Reddit

  • On X (formerly Twitter), doubts such as "the human touch is fading" and "how will it be reproduced live?" were also observed.

Additionally, some fandoms in South Korea likened it to "lip-syncing suspicions," arguing for transparency in the proportion of AI vocals used.

5. Three Points Shaking the Definition of "Authenticity"

1. Authenticity

   • Is AI complementing human voices an "enhancement" or a "replacement"?

   • Music critics defend it as "akin to retouching skin with Photoshop," but analog-oriented listeners lament the "absence of soul."

2. Disability and Freedom of Expression

   • Big Ocean explains it as a "form of assistive technology," emphasizing it provides "equal access" like prosthetic guitarists or braille music scores.

   • Opponents warn it as an extension of eugenics, "correcting disabled individuals into 'perfectly hearing' beings."

3. Business and Ethics

   • HYBE acquired Supertone for $32 million and has already applied AI voices to BTS and the new virtual group SYNDI8, growing into a pillar of IP monetization.

   • Meanwhile, the musicians' union raises issues of "loss of employment opportunities" and "black-boxing of royalty distribution."

6. On-Site Report: The "Trembling Stage" in Geneva

At the venue where the author conducted interviews, tactile speakers embedded in the floor converted deep bass into vibrations, allowing hearing-impaired members to feel the rhythm barefoot. The rear screen synchronized real-time waveforms with the "AI" logo, creating a performance where the audience could visually recognize the "duet of human and machine." After the stage, PJ smiled, saying, "AI is our 'fourth member.'"

7. Fandom Economy and Multilingual Expansion

CVC technology is easily applicable to multilingual singing, and Big Ocean plans to produce French and Portuguese versions in the future. HYBE has announced "localization into 10 languages and implementation of a 'sing-along' feature on the app by the second half of 2025." This is expected to expand the economic sphere of "global fandom × UGC (user-generated content)."

8. Industry Ripple Effects—The New Market Created by "Voice API"

Supertone Play (β), which offers voice synthesis as an API, is expanding into games, audiobooks, VTubers, and more. Experts predict that within a few years, a "voice App Store" will emerge, heralding an era where singers and voice actors will compete with "personalized AI." The case of Big Ocean illustrates the virtuous cycle where Korean entertainment takes on the initial market for new technology.

9. Conclusion: Navigating the Ocean of Technology and Emotion

Big Ocean's challenge has posed a fundamental question to society: "What is music?" Whether assistive technology enriches art or dilutes "humanity" remains unanswered. However, one thing is certain: the era has arrived where "even if you lose your voice, you don't have to give up singing." The new ocean woven by humans and AI has just opened.