Warner Music makes history by signing a record deal with the first virtual AI pop star – but is criticized for “sexualizing a child’s body” in the avatar’s “creepy” music video.

Warner Music has signed the first-ever record deal with a virtual pop star in a potentially seismic moment for the industry – but is facing backlash online over the “sexualization of a child’s body” in the avatar’s “creepy” debut music video.

Noonoouri was created in 2018 as an 18-year-old Metaverse avatar before appearing in fashion campaigns for Dior, Balenciaga and Valentino.

The digital influencer has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram and is now releasing her first single Dominoes, which has already received more than 60,000 views on YouTube.

However, it didn’t hit the right note with most pop fans, who took to social media to criticize Warner’s “disgusting” decision to create “pedo clickbait” with a music video featuring Noonoouri Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Wears skims.

One X user wrote: “Why… is it a child?”, while another said: “Just when I thought they couldn’t sink any lower.”

Controversial: Warner Music has signed the first-ever record deal with a virtual pop star – but is facing internet backlash for “sexualizing a child’s body” in her “creepy” debut music video.

Fashionista: Noonoouri was created in 2018 as an 18-year-old Metaverse avatar before appearing in fashion campaigns for Dior, Balenciaga and Valentino

Others said Noonoouri had the body of a “12 year old” and was “so disgusting”, while X user Lachlan Blackmore added: “Is this the look Warner wants to be associated with?”

It’s not the first time parents have expressed concern about the “hypersexualization” of Metaverse characters, particularly in the context of the game Avakin Life, where virtual pop star Polar regularly performs for crowds of teenagers.

“My daughter has been using this app for about three months. She is 15. The app claims that it is safe to play for ages 13 and up. “She met younger children showing off their Avakin dolls in skimpy underwear, looking for relationships and mentioning sex,” one parent wrote in a review of the game.

“It is unclear how many of these children are actually children and not adults looking for children.”

Avakin Life said at the time that it took youth safety “very seriously” and stressed that it had a reporting system in place.

A spokesman for Warner Music Central Europe said: “Noonoouri is a long-standing digital character who we have signed to a record deal.”

“She was not created by AI, although AI-powered technology was used to create her singing voice.”

“Talented songwriters and musicians have written and recorded their debut song Dominoes and we can’t wait for fans to discover it.”

Increasing popularity: The digital influencer has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram and is now releasing her first single Dominoes, which has already received more than 60,000 views on YouTube

However, it didn’t hit the right note with most pop fans when they took to social media to criticize Warner’s “disgusting” decision to create “pedo clickbait” with a music video featuring Noonoouri Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Wears skims

The company has not revealed how much its record deal with Noonoouri is worth, but each singer, songwriter and musician who contributed to the debut track will receive royalties and publishing splits, as is the case with traditional music production.

There’s something gravelly about Noonoouri’s voice, having been created using generative AI, a technology that takes existing data and transforms it into something entirely new.

It was about taking a recording of a real human singer and modifying it to give the pop star her unique vocal identity.

The character’s debut single features the 38-year-old German DJ and music producer Alle Farben, whose real name is Frans Zimmer.

In an Instagram post, Noonoouri wrote: “Music has played a big role in my life since the beginning.”

“It gets me in the mood and feeds my visions and ideas to bring them to life as a driving force within me.”

“Warner Music is home to many of my favorite music artists.”

“I cannot be more grateful and honored to be part of such a wonderful family where music is the beat of life.”

There’s something gravelly about Noonoouri’s voice, having been created using generative AI, a technology that takes existing data and transforms it into something entirely new

In an Instagram post, Noonoouri wrote: “Warner Music is home to many of my favorite music artists.” “I cannot be more grateful and honored to be part of such a wonderful family where music is the beat of life.”

Teaming: The character’s debut single features 38-year-old German DJ and music producer Alle Farben (pictured in an avatar with Noonoouri), whose real name is Frans Zimmer

Noonoouri was designed by 43-year-old graphic designer Jörg Zuber from Munich.

Commenting on their first music video on Instagram, he said: “After working so hard on this music project for two years, we can finally share this incredible teamwork with the world – thank you @warnermusic.de for believing in us #TheBeginning. “

Warner Music’s announcement comes just a month after it was revealed that rival Universal Music was negotiating with Google to license artists’ voices and melodies so they could be used in AI-generated songs.

Discussions are still at a very early stage and a product launch is not yet imminent, but the goal is to reach an agreement that will allow more software to be developed that will allow fans to create AI songs and the owners of the to pay copyright.

The artists would be given the choice of whether they wanted to join the project or leave.

It’s a similar situation to the one the music business found itself in with the advent of YouTube, when people started using hit songs as soundtracks for videos they created.

This led to years of litigation over copyright infringement until an agreement was reached that would see the music industry pay about $2 billion (£1.5 billion) a year for user-generated clips.

MailOnline has contacted Warner Music for comment on concerns that Noonoouri resembles a child.

What AI Pop Will Sound Like: How the Cloned Voices of Harry Styles, Rihanna and Kanye Offer a Blueprint for the Songs of the Future

Streaming may have caused MP3s to disappear, just as the iPod, which displaced CDs and cassettes, ended the dominance of vinyl records.

Each time, the music industry has adapted and evolved.

Fake: A “deepfake” was produced of Rihanna supposedly performing “Cuff It” by Beyoncé

But what do record companies have to offer to fend off the threat of artificial intelligence (AI)?

Now, after a series of “deepfake” songs emerged with voices convincingly imitated by artists like Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and Drake, the world’s largest record label is taking action.

Universal Music is currently negotiating with Google to license artists’ voices and melodies so they can be used in AI-generated songs. How is this new age music produced and what does it sound like?

MailOnline takes a look.

Heads up: Universal Music is currently negotiating with Google to license artists’ voices and melodies so they can be used in AI-generated songs. What follows is the creation of a series of “deepfake” songs, whose voices have been convincingly imitated by artists such as Drake and Rihanna