Kumi Tanioka, the acclaimed composer behind Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, has publicly stated that she did not create a new album appearing on streaming services like Spotify under her name. The album, titled "A Village Built on Wind," has caused confusion for the composer, who has worked on numerous other titles including Final Fantasy 11, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.
Tanioka shared her bewilderment on her personal Dwitter account, noting that the album was listed under her profile but was not her work. While she was unsure if the music was AI-generated, a company that has published some of her work, Digital Sonic Design, issued a statement confirming that the tracks do not infringe on any copyrights. The statement also suggested the possibility of a同姓同名 (same name) situation, though tracks on YouTube Music have reportedly been labeled as AI-generated. The artwork accompanying the album also bears a strong resemblance to AI-generated imagery.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the unauthorized use of artists' identities and works, particularly with the rise of AI music generation. While the exact circumstances of how "A Village Built on Wind" was attributed to Tanioka remain unclear, the composer has distanced herself from the project, suggesting listeners enjoy it as the work of another artist.