AI Music Startup NewTune Debuts 'AI Traditional Music' Globally at CES 2026

AI music startup NewTune will showcase its AI research results and services specialized in traditional Korean music (gugak) on the global stage at CES 2026. This participation is part of the "Cultural Sector AI Learning Data Development and Utilization Service Discovery Project" promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Cultural Information Service. The goal is to build Korean-style cultural AI learning data that allows for accurate creation of gugak content on global AI platforms without distortion, and to inform its potential for utilization. Until now, global generative AI models have shown limitations in processing traditional patterns, gugak, and traditional knowledge superficially due to a lack of learning data on Korean traditional culture. This project systematically structures various traditional cultural data such as traditional patterns, gugak, the Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore, and traditional clothing into forms suitable for AI learning. NewTune is part of a consortium led by cultural AI specialized company WIPCO and is collaborating with the National Gugak Center to develop gugak vocal AI. They are jointly researching vocal data that reflects the unique vocalization, ornaments, and rhythmic structures of gugak, along with generation and transformation technologies. At CES, attendees can experience the gugak vocal AI through NewTune's AI music service "MixAudio." An AI service utilizing traditional patterns, in collaboration with the world’s leading 3D fashion design solution CLO, will also be introduced. Lee Jong-pil, CEO of NewTune, stated, "This is a historic moment where Korea's traditional art of gugak meets cutting-edge AI technology, providing a new creative resource for creators worldwide," and added, "We will take the lead in spreading the value of K-gugak within the global music technology ecosystem while preserving its identity."