Neon Oni, an AI-generated band, will perform live in Japan after hiring real musicians for concerts in 2026.
The AI-generated band Neon Oni is set to embark on a series of live concerts in Japan, marking a significant shift from its digital origins. The news, reported by NewsBytes, highlights the band's evolution since its debut music video went viral in 2025.
Neon Oni has gained considerable traction, amassing over 79,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with its track "Satori Sedai" achieving more than 1.2 million streams. Initially, the project was a digital creation by an individual known as Kage, who utilized Suno AI to craft music and developed seven fictional band members based in Tokyo. Kage promoted the band through social media and merchandise sales without explicitly branding it as a virtual group.
As the group's popularity soared, fans began to speculate about the use of AI in its creation. Following this revelation, Kage decided to hire real musicians from Tokyo to perform live, with six concerts scheduled for March and April 2026.
"We decided to make the band real mainly because of the excitement and immense love from fans," Kage remarked.
In response to concerns about AI's impact on job security, Kage emphasized that this initiative actually creates employment opportunities rather than eliminates them.
CEO of Suno Issues Apology
Meanwhile, Mikey Schulman, CEO of Suno, recently apologized for his earlier comments suggesting that music production is often unenjoyable. During a January 2025 appearance on the 20VC podcast, he faced backlash from producers who felt his remarks undermined the creative process.
In a follow-up interview with Billboard, Schulman expressed regret over his choice of words, clarifying that he was referencing technical challenges rather than the artistic aspects of music making. His company, Suno, aims to simplify music creation, having launched the innovative generative DAW, Suno Studio, in September 2025, which seeks to make music production more accessible.
