Telisha “Nikki” Jones, operating under the AI-generated persona Xania Monet, has secured a $3 million record deal with Hallwood Media. The agreement highlights the growing intersection of artificial intelligence and the music industry, even as major labels simultaneously sue AI platforms like Suno—the very tool Jones uses to create Monet’s vocals and production.
What you should know: Jones combines human songwriting with AI-generated elements to create a fully artificial musical persona that’s achieving commercial success.
- Jones writes all lyrics and takes production credits, but uses Suno’s AI platform to generate Monet’s vocals, images, and musical arrangements.
- Monet’s song “How Was I Supposed to Know” hit No. 1 on R&B Digital Song Sales during the week of September 20, 2025.
- The track gained significant traction on TikTok with over 80,000 posts and reached the 39th spot on TikTok’s Top 50 Music Chart.
The digital presence: Monet’s online footprint reveals the telltale signs of AI generation while attracting a substantial following.
- Her TikTok account boasts 322,000 followers and over one million likes.
- AI-generated videos show her performing in various settings, featuring the characteristic “uncanny valley” aesthetics of artificial content.
- Fan reactions vary widely—some are unaware she’s AI-generated, others don’t care, and some debate the authenticity in comments.
Legal battleground: The success comes amid escalating lawsuits between creative industries and AI companies over copyright infringement.
- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is suing Suno, alleging the platform “stream-ripped” copyrighted songs from YouTube to train its models.
- The lawsuit represents major labels including Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment.
- Similar cases include The New York Times suing OpenAI and Disney/Universal suing Midjourney over unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
Industry implications: The record deal raises complex questions about profit distribution and creative authenticity in AI-generated content.
- Hallwood Media has also signed imoliver, Suno’s top-streaming creator, suggesting a broader strategy around AI-generated music.
- Monet plans to incorporate more human producers in future releases and is considering live performances, though the logistics remain unclear.
- The arrangement mirrors AI influencer Lil Miquela’s multi-million dollar talent agency deal, where real people profit from digital personas.
What they’re saying: Industry reactions reflect the polarized views on AI in creative spaces.
- Popular R&B artist Kehlani expressed “disdain for AI-generated music and for offering record deals to people who use it.”
- Some TikTok users find deep emotional connection to Monet’s lyrics despite knowing she’s artificial: “despite being sung by an AI artist, Monet’s lyrics deeply touch them, giving them a song that mirrors their life experiences.”
Why this matters: The deal represents a potential paradigm shift in how the music industry approaches AI-generated content, raising fundamental questions about creativity, compensation, and the future of human artistry. While some view it as democratizing music creation for those without traditional industry access, others see it as undermining artists who dedicate their lives to their craft—a tension that will likely define the creative industries’ relationship with AI technology.
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