Tennessee has become the first state to pass legislation specifically designed to protect the voices of musicians and public figures from unauthorized use by artificial intelligence. Signed into law by Governor Bill Lee at Nashville’s Robert’s Western World, the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act updates the state’s 1984 right-of-publicity law to cover AI-generated replicas of a person’s voice.
The ELVIS Act was created in response to growing concerns over deepfake audio and synthetic voice tools being used to imitate artists without permission. It garnered broad bipartisan support and backing from organizations such as the Recording Academy, the RIAA, and the Americana Music Association. The legislation enables performers and their estates to pursue legal action against anyone who profits from AI-created imitations of their voice or likeness.
Tennessee’s action is viewed as a historic moment in addressing the cultural and legal challenges posed by the creative and ethical issues of generative AI. The law aims to strike a balance between innovation and artist protection, making sure AI doesn't undermine the economic and artistic rights of musicians and performers in the digital age.
WKRN News 2. (2025, March 21). TN legislation protecting artist voices from AI signed into law at Nashville honky tonk. https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tn-legislation-protecting-artist-voices-from-ai-signed-into-law-at-nashville-honky-tonk
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