Nashville Launch: New Royalty System Aims to Reinvent Artist Rights

In the heart of Music City, a major step forward in protecting artists’ rights just took place. Monarrch, a forward-thinking technology company focused on creator protection, has unveiled its groundbreaking AI Royalty Operating System—AIR-OS—during a private preview event in Nashville. The invite-only gathering brought together major music industry figures, including Sony Music Publishing CEO Rusty Gaston and Grammy-winning producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, alongside Monarrch co-founders Ken Gay and John Pisciotta.

More than just another tech launch, this event marked the beginning of a new era for creative ownership in the age of artificial intelligence. With the rise of AI-generated content, creators around the world have voiced concerns about how their work, likeness, and voices are being replicated and monetized—often without their knowledge or consent. AIR-OS aims to change that.

Built as a secure bridge between an artist’s intellectual property and the growing number of AI platforms, AIR-OS promises real-time protection, transparency, and payment. In practice, it fingerprints and verifies content, tracks its use across AI systems, ensures artists have approved any licensing, and automatically distributes royalties when their work is used. No chasing down usage reports. No missed payments. No mystery.

“AIR-OS is built with artists, not just for them,” said Monarrch’s Ken Gay. “It’s about control, consent, and compensation—all in one system. And it’s designed to protect American creators on a global scale, especially from countries like China where large-scale IP theft has become a real concern.”

The system arrives at a critical moment. Tennessee recently passed the ELVIS Act, the nation’s first law protecting against unauthorized AI replication of someone’s voice, image, or likeness. Meanwhile, Congress is considering similar legislation through the proposed NO FAKES Act. While these bills set the legal foundation, AIR-OS delivers the technology to enforce those rights in real time.

“We don’t have to become China to beat China,” said Monarrch co-founder John Pisciotta. “We just have to build better systems—systems that value creativity, reward innovation, and protect the people who inspire the future.”

With early access now open to artists, estates, and industry executives, Monarrch is positioning AIR-OS as the essential infrastructure for a fairer AI economy. As AI-generated music, video, and digital content continue to rise, the question is no longer if creative work will be used—it’s how, and who gets paid.

For Monarrch, the answer is clear: when an AI uses your voice, your lyrics, or your likeness, you should get paid.