IFPI chief executive Victoria Oakley has told the All About Music conference in Mumbai that India’s music industry has “extraordinary potential” to drive the next wave of global growth – but must tackle key challenges to secure its future.
In a keynote speech to industry leaders, Oakley praised India’s rich and diverse musical heritage, from classical traditions to Punjabi folk, filmi soundtracks and Indian pop.
Oakley highlighted the transformative role of streaming, social media and digital distribution. But she warned that growth must be sustainable, pointing to the misuse of generative AI, streaming fraud and the fact that just 20 million of India’s 192 million streaming users pay for subscriptions.
“These risks are real,” she said. “Music has worth, and paying for it sustains the artists and cultures we love. The decisions we make now will shape the next decade of music.”
She outlined three priorities for the industry:
Grow paid streaming: Shifting away from ad-funded models and towards a value-driven, subscription-led future.
Strengthen collaboration: With labels, platforms, creators and governments working together – whether it’s tackling streaming fraud or building AI safeguards.
Champion regional diversity: Supporting music in local languages and styles to deepen connections at home and abroad.
As part of this commitment, Oakley confirmed that IFPI is working with local partners, the Indian affiliates of major international record companies, and both local and global DSPs to launch official charts in India.
For the first time, these charts will include both international and domestic repertoire, alongside dedicated official local-language charts designed to reflect the breadth of India’s musical landscape.
Victoria Oakley, CEO of IFPI, said: “The decisions we make now will shape the next decade of music. We must choose a path that values creativity, protects human expression, and champions fairness for everyone in the industry. We must never forget that music is made by people, for people.
“Behind every track is a story, a burst of imagination, a struggle, a desire to share. That is what makes this industry powerful – and that is why it is worth protecting.
“So, as India continues to rise as a global music powerhouse, let us work together as labels, platforms, governments, and fans – to build a future where music is valued and celebrated.”
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Pick up an August 2025 issue of Vogue and you’ll come across an advertisement for the brand Guess featuring a stunning model. Yet tucked away in small print is a startling admission: She isn’t real. She was generated entirely by AI.
For decades, fashion images have been retouched. But this isn’t airbrushing a real person; it’s a “person” created from scratch, a digital composite of data points, engineered to appear as a beautiful woman.
The backlash to the Guess ad was swift. Veteran model Felicity Hayward called the move “lazy and cheap,” warning that it undermines years of work to promote diversity. After all, why hire models of different sizes, ages and ethnicities when a machine can generate a narrow, market-tested ideal of beauty on demand?
I study human-AI collaboration, and my work focuses on how AI influences decision-making, trust and human agency, all of which came into play during the Vogue controversy.
This new reality is not a cause for doom. However, now that it’s becoming much harder – if not impossible – to tell whether something is created by a human or a machine, it’s worth asking what’s gained and what’s lost from this technology. Most importantly, what does it say about what we truly value in art?
The forensic viewer and listener
In 1950, computer scientist Alan Turing wondered whether a machine could exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human.
He proposed his famous imitation game. In it, a human judges whether they’re conversing with a person or a computer. If the human can’t tell the difference, the computer passes the test.
In 1950, British scientist Alan Turing wondered how and when the outputs of a computer would be indistinguishable from those of humans. Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
For decades, this remained a theoretical benchmark. But with the recent explosion of powerful chatbots, the original Turing Test for conversation has arguably been passed. This breakthrough raises a new question: If AI can master conversation, can it master art?
The evidence suggests it has already passed what might be called an “aesthetic Turing Test.”
AI can generate music, images and movies so convincingly that people struggle to distinguish them from human creations.
In music, platforms like Suno and Udio can produce original songs, complete with vocals and lyrics, in any imaginable genre in seconds. Some are so good they’ve gone viral. Meanwhile, photo-realistic images are equally deceptive. In 2023, millions believed that the fabricated photo of Pope Francis in a puffer jacket was real, a stunning example of AI’s power to create convincing fiction.
Why our brains are being fooled
So why are we falling for it?
First, AI has become an expert forger of human patterns. These models are trained on gigantic libraries of human-made art. They have analyzed more paintings, songs and photographs than any person ever could. These models may not have a soul, but they have learned the mathematical recipe for what we find beautiful or catchy.
Second, AI has bridged the uncanny valley. This is the term for the creepy feeling we get when something looks almost human but not quite – like a humanoid robot or a doll with vacant eyes.
That subtle sense of wrongness has been our built-in detector for fakes. But the latest AI is so sophisticated that it has climbed out of the valley. It no longer makes the small mistakes that trigger our alarm bells.
Finally, AI does not just copy reality; it creates a perfected version of it. The French philosopher Jean Baudrillard called this a simulacrum – a copy with no original.
The AI model in Vogue is the perfect example. She is not a picture of a real woman. She is a hyperreal ideal that no living person can compete with. Viewers don’t flag her as fake because she is, in a sense, more “perfect” than real.
The future of art in a synthetic world
When art is this easy to generate – and its origin this hard to verify – something precious risks being lost.
The German thinker Walter Benjamin once wrote about the “aura” of an original artwork – the sense of history and human touch that makes it special. A painting has an aura because you can see the brushstrokes; an old photograph has an aura because it captured a real moment in time.
AI-generated art has no such aura. It is infinitely reproducible, has no history, and lacks a human story. This is why, even when it is technically perfect, it can feel hollow.
When you become suspicious of a work’s origins, the act of listening to a song or viewing a photograph is no longer simply about feeling the rhythm or wondering what may have existed outside the frame. It also requires running a mental checklist, searching for the statistical ghost in the machine. And that moment of analytical doubt pulls viewers and listeners out of the work’s emotional world.
To me, the aesthetic Turing Test is not just about whether a machine can fool us; it’s a challenge that asks us to decide what we really want from art.
If a machine creates a song that brings a person to tears, does it matter that the machine felt nothing? Where does the meaning of art truly reside – in the mind of the creator or in the heart of the observer?
We have built a mirror that reflects our own creativity back at us, and now we must decide: Do we prefer perfection without humanity, or imperfection with meaning? Do we choose the flawless, disposable reflection, or the messy, fun house mirror of the human mind?
A Devon recycling charity is offering free school uniform items from its branches year-round.
Refurnish’s shop in Tiverton is the latest to be giving away items in an effort to reduce the cost of living for its customers.
Shop manager Figgy Chambers said people were “really appreciative”, adding: “Uniform is really expensive to buy these days, and it’s difficult to find it mid-year, so we have decided to offer it all year round so people can come and get a cardigan or something”.
The shop said all children’s toys, books, DVDs and clothes were also available free of charge to help families with the cost of the summer holidays.
A similar uniform scheme started in Refurnish South Molton five years ago, and staff at the Tiverton branch thought it was such a good idea that they would follow suit, and customers were really grateful.
Eight-year-old Isla came in with her mother to get new shoes.
On finding out she could get them for free, she said: “We came back and grabbed some more things like pencils and pens, and a hairband, and two teddies and a toy for my little sister.”
Kate Middleton’s emotional health at an all-time low: ‘Not sure she ever will bounce back’
Kate Middleton seems to be threading a very thin line between her work and personal life.
So much so that an insider has come forward, with some grave admissions about the state of her mental and emotional health.
According to this insider, “Behind closed doors, she’s still struggling emotionally and tires a lot more easily”.
A big reason for this is because “it’s taking longer to readjust to royal life after her cancer treatment.”
The same insider also admitted to RadarOnline, “she’s still not back to where she was before her diagnosis, and she’s not sure she ever will be, which is why she’s told William she needs a decent break before term starts in September.”
“She’s unofficially stepped back from royal duties this summer – and of course, William is wholly supportive.”
A similar note has been shared by the late Queen Elizabeth’s former spokesperson as well.
The spokesperson, Alisa Anderson shared too that, “This summer is all about ‘pacing herself’.”
“She gets so much sustenance in nature, and she’s lucky to have homes in some of the most beautiful parts of Britain, in Norfolk and on the Windsor estate.”
Even as of now “she’s being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life… she’ll be able to re-energize herself,” Ms Anderson concluded.
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas are going strong in their relationship.
Insiders have recently revealed that the Mission: Impossible star is planning a settled life with Ana de Armas as he wants to become a dad.
As per RadarOnline, Cruise wants to become a father before he turns 64.
Sharing that the couple, who has been dating for eight months only, are already discussing marriage and kids, the source noted that they’re looking for a family base.
The source, who is said to be a long-time associate, stated, “Tom’s been talking openly about wanting to be a father again, and he’s said he wants it to happen before he it’s the age of 64 next July.””
“He’s now planning a proper, settled life with Ana,” they added.
Additionally, another insider shared that Tom and Ana are looking for grandest estates to make their “forever homes,” adding that for the Top Gun: Maverick actor townhouse lifestyle doesn’t fit now that the Eden actress is in his life.
The source said, “He’s always been drawn to that big, stately-home lifestyle, but it used to feel empty.”
“Now he wants someone to share it with – and to raise a family there,” they added. “He’s envisioned a place where friends and family can come together. He wants stables, sprawling gardens, and a private cinema – basically, Tom’s idea of a modern-day fairy-tale castle.”
On the other hand, the sources claim that “independent” Ana de Armas is balancing her relationship to Tom and her career.
“Marriage isn’t something she’s hurrying into, but she’s committed to Tom. People close to them say he seems revitalized – she’s brought out a calmer, more grounded side of him,” they said.
Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise feel that they need larger and “more permanent home” if they’re going to have a family.
Jenna Ortega isn’t the only one enchanting us with her Wednesday-inspired press tour style. Emma Myers, who reprises her role as Wednesday Addams’s werewolf roommate Enid Sinclair, also bewitched us with her fashion choices.
Myers teamed up with stylist Jordan Johnson Chung for the global-spanning tour, which took the actor from New York City to Seoul to Sydney. Together, the duo leaned into the show’s gothic tone and the prep school setting. “We wanted to strike a balance between Romantic goth and tomboy with Emma’s looks for the tour,” Chung says. “Emma is someone who pulls off both styles really well but is also willing to step out of her comfort zone and try something new.”
Indeed, Myers has rocked brands big and small, from Louis Vuitton to Shushu/tong. Other highlights include a custom black velvet Rodarte gown, a Thom Browne riff on a school uniform, and a slinky color-blocked Anna October slip. The biggest showstopper to date? A red Chantilly lace McQueen dress with a corseted bodice, strong shoulders, and austere collar that would surely make Wednesday Addams herself green with envy.
Below, see Emma Myers’s Wednesday press tour looks.
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) said on Wednesday that a lion was allegedly spotted in the Police Foundation Housing Society, O-9.
In a statement, the IWMB confirmed that its rescue team reached the location soon after the report and established coordination with Punjab Wildlife, Rescue 1122, and the Police Foundation to ensure safe handling if the animal is found.
Wild Animal Reported in O-9,Isld. Allegedly lion was reportedly seen in Police Foundation,O-9.IWMB’s rescue team reached the site & linked with Punjab Wildlife,Rescue 1122 & Police Foundation to ensure safe handling as per protocols if found any.Public safety is our top priority pic.twitter.com/tsxLCSqEwd
— Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) (@WildlifeBoard) August 20, 2025
The board emphasized that public safety is its top priority and assured that all actions are being taken according to set protocols. Officials added that efforts are ongoing to verify the report and take necessary steps.
Residents of the area have been advised to stay alert until the situation is clarified. The IWMB stated that it will continue working closely with relevant departments to ensure both public safety and the proper management of any wildlife if confirmed.
Val Mortimer adored donkeys in life, so requested for her funeral procession to be led by one
Here’s our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.
Our pick of local website stories
Signs have appeared in Swindon town centre warning shoppers that a Public Space Protection Order is in place, as the council crack down on anti-social behaviour.
A farmer in Gloucestershire is pleading for help to feed her cattle after the hot, dry weather this summer has meant they have little food for winter.
A man in Burnham-On-Sea has celebrated his 90th birthday with his second skydive, tandem jumping alongside his son.
Our top three from yesterday
What to watch on social media
A mum in Quedgeley has thanked those who helped pull her pram and baby from the canal, adding she is “eternally grateful” to the heroes who saved her baby’s life.
A woman who adored donkeys requested that her funeral procession was led by one of the beloved animals, making the day “as personal and meaningful as her life”.
Three accessible bungalows have been constructed in Walcot, with no steps, wide doorways and adjustable kitchen counters.
Joe Jonas gets honest about joining the Mile High Club
Joe Jonas just made a rib-tickling confession and its from a couple of years ago, about joining the Mile High Club.
The whole thing was recounted on the NowThis’ video series Are You Okay? and he even offered fans a bonus embarrassing encounter.
He began by recalling, “I was wearing contacts, left the bathroom.”
And “I thought I was high-fiving my drummer — it was the flight attendant.”
He then admitted his relief over the fact that “it was a private flight, or I would be banned from flying.”
This was not the only admission he made ether, the singer also offered a little titbit on one thing people may not know about him.
“I have 67 stitches between my eyebrows. We were on the Hannah Montana tour. We were filming. Part of the video was me running through a wall and being like, ‘Guys, I can run through walls. You gotta come see this.’”
