BBC Introducing criticised for championing AI 'artist'
The "completely" AI-generated song was praised as "pitch perfect" and "amazing."
Date published: 17th Nov 2025
BBC Introducing is receiving criticism for its platforming of an AI artist.
BBC Radio West Midlands aired a pre-recorded interview with ‘Papi Lamour’, an AI “artist” who uses artificial intelligence to create music, on the Introducing Show on Thursday 6th November.
According to LBC, host Theo Johnson praised Lamour's music, saying: "It sounded pitch perfect, the instrumentals were amazing, the words were amazing, and it was representing Black History Month. How could I not get behind it?"
He went on to say it was created in a "very unique way, and with the times", with Lamour revealing it was created with AI.
LBC also says that Lamour explained he wrote the lyrics, saying: "With various technological tools available these days, you can commission a virtual band to do the rest for you."
Lamour admitted in the interview that they would struggle to perform the song live.
Musicians and music fans have taken to social media to air their frustration, with one on X saying: "[it is] really disappointing as BBC Introducing is meant to spotlight new artists and he could have given that spot to a hardworking musician."
Birmingham-based artist Mollyxo took to TikTok to say: “It's so disrespectful to collate all our [independent musicians'] hard work and to put it at the same level as some guy who just typed into a computer and made an AI song.”
Mollyxo also points out that they chose Lamour as they wanted a Black artist of the month to coincide with Black History Month, despite there being many Black artists in Birmingham who create their own music: "This guy doesn't even make music, he makes code. Could you not have found a Black artist? There are many of them in Birmingham who actually make the music."
The video is captioned: "The guy has 11 followers and one of them is Theo Johnson - the host of the show - bit convenient that? I've complained formally to them and waiting to hear back."
A BBC spokesperson told Rolling Stone: “Each track is considered based on its musical merit and whether it is right for our target audience, with decisions made on a case-by-case basis.”
Sophie Jones, Chief Strategy Officer for the British Phonographic Industry, said: “While we don’t know the specific facts around this case, our overarching view is that while AI has existed as a tool in music creation for some time and is already being used productively by some artists in their work, it should be used to support human creativity and not supplant it.
“We continue to see a rise in AI-generated tracks entering the market, facilitated by tech companies training AI models using creative works – largely without authorisation or payment to creators and rights-holders – which competes directly with human artistry. That’s why we’re calling on the UK Government to protect copyright and introduce new transparency obligations for AI companies so that music rights can be licensed and enforced, and calling for content which has been solely generated by AI to be clearly labelled as such.”
Papi Lamour has yet to respond to criticism. Though Rolling Stone reports he posted a cryptic TikTok in which he said: “Jealousy shouts, kindness thinks, and courage keeps creating. Never let the noise of small minds drown the work of a big one.”
Lamour describes themself as a “songwriter and digital-era producer”, saying they write music and “use AI tools as part of their creative process to shape a unique global sound.”
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