Francoobla Music Announces Development of “AI vs. HI,” a New Blind-Format Musical Competition Exploring Artificial and Human Creativity

AZZATE, Italy, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Francoobla Music today announced the development of “AI vs. HI (Artificial Intelligence vs. Human Intelligence),” a proposed international musical competition format designed to present AI-assisted and human-created songs within a structured blind-listening competition.

Created by Italian composer and entrepreneur Franco Oblatore, the format is designed to examine how audiences and juries respond to music when the identity and origin of each track are withheld during the voting process.

The inaugural edition is planned to feature 20 female-vocal tracks, consisting of 10 tracks representing Human Intelligence (HI) and 10 tracks created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The identities of the artists and the method used to create each track would remain undisclosed until voting has concluded.

Blind-Listening Format

Under the current executive draft of the format, participating tracks would be assigned numbers rather than artist names. No artist faces, biographies, or other identifying information would be presented during the initial performances.

The proposed format is intended to place the focus on the musical works themselves and allow viewers and jurors to evaluate the performances without knowing whether an individual track was created by a human or with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

Each track would have a maximum duration of four minutes. The first edition would be limited to female vocal performances, with a separate male-vocal edition currently contemplated for a later stage of the project.

Voting and Selection

The current format provides for a combined voting mechanism consisting of 30% public digital voting and 70% jury or executive committee voting. The final composition of the jury, voting methodology, eligibility requirements, and other operational details remain subject to further development and may be adapted for individual markets and production partners.

Human-created submissions would be reviewed by the project's artistic direction before the final selection of participating tracks.

Planned Final Reveal

A central element of the proposed format is the final identity reveal. Once voting closes, the tracks would remain identified by their assigned numbers while the results are presented. The identities and AI or human classifications of the participating works would then be disclosed as part of the concluding segment.

The format is currently being developed for potential television, streaming, and digital production. A first edition is tentatively contemplated for 2027, with the final location, broadcaster, production partner, and launch date yet to be determined.

U.S. Launch Priority

AMERICA FIRST. Francoobla Music is offering U.S. television networks and streaming platforms an initial 30-day window to express interest in acquiring or developing the format for the U.S. market. The creator's stated preference is to launch the first edition in the United States.

If no U.S. partner is selected during this initial period, Francoobla Music may consider opportunities in other international markets, including Southeast Asia, as part of its broader global development strategy. The company is currently keeping discussions open with potential international partners while prioritizing the U.S. market.

Documentation of the Format

Francoobla Music stated that materials relating to the format have been deposited with the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE) under deposit number 2026/01584. The company also stated that a copyright application has been submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office under case number 1-15211873131.

These references concern the documentation of the project's creative materials and should not be interpreted as an endorsement, certification, or approval by SIAE or the U.S. Copyright Office.

Franco Oblatore said:

“The purpose of AI vs. HI is to create a musical environment in which the audience first listens and evaluates, and only afterward discovers how each work was created. I believe this approach can encourage a constructive conversation about technology, creativity and the continuing role of human artists.”

Francoobla Music is currently exploring potential production, broadcasting, streaming, licensing, and other commercial opportunities for the format. No television network, streaming service, venue, sponsor, or production partner has been formally announced at this stage.

About Francoobla Music

Francoobla Music is an Italy-based creative music project founded by composer and entrepreneur Franco Oblatore. The project focuses on musical composition, production and the development of creative formats incorporating contemporary technologies.

Media Contact:
Franco Oblatore
Francoobla Music
Azzate (Varese), Italy
Email: francoobla@gmail.com

Website: francooblamusic.com

Disclaimer: This sponsored content reflects the views and statements of the content provider only and does not necessarily represent the views of this media platform, its publisher, or GlobeNewswire. The information contained in this release is provided for general informational purposes only. The AI vs. HI format is currently under development, and proposed rules, voting procedures, timelines, locations, commercial arrangements, and production plans may be modified or may not proceed as currently contemplated. References to SIAE and the U.S. Copyright Office refer to filings or deposits stated by Francoobla Music and do not imply endorsement, certification, approval, or registration unless expressly confirmed by the respective organization. Any future broadcasting, streaming, sponsorship, licensing, acquisition, or other commercial arrangements would be subject to separate negotiations, agreements, and applicable laws and regulations. The media platform, publisher, and GlobeNewswire do not independently verify or endorse the claims, statements, or future plans contained in this release.

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