The legendary rock band ‘The Beatles’ are back in the limelight at the Grammys almost half a century after their official breakup. The song "Now and Then," which is set for two Grammy nominations and made possible by artificial intelligence (AI), is the band's final song. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr could finally complete it using machine learning technology from a demo that John Lennon recorded in the late 1970s. Along with its own technological breakthroughs in music restoration, "Now and Then" also stands at a fascinating intersection of old sounds and modern AI and emerges from the shadows to put down a perfect challenge next to newer artists like Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift in the 2025 Grammy nominations.
Originally recorded by Lennon on a basic demo tape, “Now and Then” was handed to his bandmates in the 90s, during work on The Beatles Anthology project. However, they couldn't release the track back then because of the limitations in audio separation technology. It wasn’t until 2021 that filmmaker Peter Jackson’s team used advanced AI to separate Lennon’s vocals from the background instrumentals, enabling McCartney and Starr to complete the song.
The Grammy nominations for “Now and Then” include Record of the Year, where it competes with current hits like Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” and Billie Eilish’s “Birds Of A Feather.” The song also received a nomination for Best Rock Performance, up against rock icons like Green Day and Pearl Jam.
Despite the AI involvement, “Now and Then” fits within Grammy guidelines, which allow works with “elements” of AI to be eligible. This historic nomination bridges the past and future of music, proving that even half a century later, The Beatles’ influence remains timeless. Fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting the Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025, to see if “Now and Then” will claim a win in this unique musical chapter.