Artist Included to Re-Record Classic Songs with AI, Starting with Boy George's "Karma Chameleon"

Tech startup Artist Included launches with plan to re-record classic songs using AI. First up: Karma Chameleon with Boy George

June 16, 2026 By Murray Stassen

A new music technology company called Artist Included has launched in Los Angeles, aiming to let artists re-record classic tracks using AI-assisted vocal technology.

The company claims that it is “creating a new model for legendary artists to reimagine classic recordings and create new, artist-owned masters for today’s market”.

Artist Included was founded by entrepreneur Paul “PK” Kemsley,  who also manages Boy George,  and entertainment attorney and film producer Jeremy Rosen .

To mark the launch, Artist Included is releasing a new recording of Culture Club ‘s Karma Chameleon featuring Boy George , in partnership with BMG , timed to coincide with the singer’s 65th birthday on Sunday (June 14).

Seed investors include Mike Walsh , a founding partner of Structure Capital and seed investor in Uber and Salesforce ; Doug Raetz , Co-President of Cresset Sports and Entertainment ; and Red Light Management , one of the world’s largest independent artist management companies.

Artist Included said the release is not a synthetic AI recording.

Boy George performed the new vocal in the studio, with what the company describes as “artist-approved and ethical technology” used to support the final recording – “not replace the artist.”

It is the first of what the company says will be many planned releases with artists from the 1960s through the 2000s , as Artist Included works with artists to create new, artist-owned masters and unlock commercial opportunities across streaming, sync, film, TV, advertising, gaming, brand partnerships, vinyl releases, direct-to-fan campaigns, foreign-language versions, remixes, and other formats.

> “Used responsibly, AI can become one of the most powerful creative tools the music industry has ever seen.” Paul “PK” Kemsley

“For decades, artists created the soundtrack to our lives while much of the long-term value moved away from the original creators,” said Kemsley , Co-Founder and CEO of Artist Included .

“ Artist Included was built to help reverse that dynamic.

“This is not about replacing artists or exploiting old catalogs – it is about helping artists create new ones. Used responsibly, AI can become one of the most powerful creative tools the music industry has ever seen.”

Rosen , Co-Founder of Artist Included , added: “The future of AI in music must put artists at the center – creatively, ethically, and economically.

“ Artist Included is building a model where artists control and participate directly in the future value created from their music, voice, brand, and legacy.

“All ego aside, we are shifting the narrative from piracy to partnership; a timely AI reframe.”

> “The future of AI in music must put artists at the center – creatively, ethically, and economically.” Jeremy Rosen

Boy George , who collaborated with the company on the launch release, said: “Revisiting Karma Chameleon in this way was emotional and creatively inspiring.”

> “Revisiting Karma Chameleon in this way was emotional and creatively inspiring.” Boy George

“The goal was never to replace the original – it was to celebrate it and let the song keep evolving for new audiences,” Boy George added.

Artist Included has appointed Robert Earl , founder of Planet Hollywood , as Chairman of the Board.

The company’s technology partner, Syntiant , developed the vocal AI platform used in its artist-approved audio processing. Syntiant was co-founded by Kurt Busch , who also serves as a Board Member of Artist Included .

The launch arrives at a moment of intensifying debate within the music industry over AI , ownership, and the future economics of music.

In February, Spotify Co-CEO Gustav Söderström described AI-generated “derivatives” of existing music as an “untapped opportunity for artists to make money off of their existing IP” – while stressing that Spotify would only build such features “with artists’ support, not around them.”

Last month, Spotify  and  Universal Music Group   announced licensing agreements enabling fans to create AI-powered covers and remixes of songs from participating artists and songwriters.

Universal Music Group partnered with AI startup SoundLabs in 2024 to give its artists access to an AI vocal plug-in that allows them to create voice models using their own voice data – while retaining ownership and creative control.

And in January this year, online music marketplace BeatStars acquired generative AI startup Lemonaide AI , aiming to build what it called “the world’s first ethical, creator-owned AI music ecosystem.”

Artist Included says additional artist partnerships, releases, and strategic announcements will be unveiled in the coming months. Music Business Worldwide

_Originally reported by [Music Business Worldwide](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/boy-george-uses-ai-to-re-record-karma-chameleon-as-first-release-from-tech-startup-artist-included/)._