Linda Perry, the iconic singer and guitarist of 4 Non Blondes, has called on songwriters to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a creative tool. The 61-year-old music legend received the Special International Award at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards, held at London’s Grosvenor Hotel, in recognition of her profound impact on the British music industry.
Perry’s Perspective on AI in Music
Perry, who penned hits such as Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful, Pink’s Get the Party Started, and Gwen Stefani’s What You Waiting For?, described AI as just another tool that can simplify the creative process. Speaking to the Press Association, she said: “To me, it’s just another tool that has shown up to make people’s life easier in some way.”
Drawing a comparison to the introduction of microwaves, she added: “When microwaves showed up, everybody thought it was the end of making dinner... It’s not. This is the future, we have to embrace it, because if we try to run from the future, then we’re running from solution.”
James Blunt Echoes the Sentiment
British artist James Blunt, who was signed to Perry’s Custard Records label in the 2000s, presented her with the award. He agreed that AI could be harnessed for good in music. “It’s weird how people are so nervous about it because actually the music business has shifted and changed so often, just something to embrace,” Blunt remarked.
He humorously noted: “If I can’t hit the high notes, we just tell it to sing in the voice of James Blunt... The other day I was recording a song, and I got my band to do the backing vocals, and they were all rubbish, and AI could do it really perfectly and it was much cheaper. What’s not to love about that?”
The Ivor Novello Awards, presented by the Ivors Academy, celebrate outstanding songwriting and composing, judged by peers in the industry.
