Should Music Producers and the Industry be Threatened by AI-Generated Music?

August 15, 2023

The dynamic relationship between art and technology has always been a head-scratcher, right? As tech rockets forward faster than we can keep up, it’s like asking: can all this innovation jazz up our creative side, or does it pose a threat to the very essence of human creativity? Now, picture this: AI strutting onto the music scene. It’s got us all intrigued.

The Global Generative AI in the Music Market was valued at USD 229 million. Between 2023 and 2032, this market is estimated to register the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.6%, and it is expected to reach USD 2,660 million by 2032. This AI whirlwind promises to shake up the music world, and we can’t help but wonder how it’s going to groove with artists, music producers, and the creative process itself.

AI as Catalyst for Musical Evolution

Throughout history, technology has often acted as a catalyst for entirely new musical genres, from synthesizers shaping electronic music to the emergence of hip-hop through 12-bit samplers and drum machines. The contemporary rise of AI-generated music follows in this tradition, opening up new avenues for musical exploration. AI companies and tools such as Google Magenta’s NSynth Super, SampleRobot, Moises, AIVA, Jukedeck, Amadeus Code and others are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in music composition, enabling musicians to craft entirely novel sonic landscapes.

Yet, with great power comes the potential for misuse. The emergence of AI-generated tracks, such as the infamous “Heart on My Sleeve,” which featured fake Drake and the Weeknd vocals, and the track played by David Guetta that used an AI voice-changing tool to generate artificial Eminem vocals, raises concerns about the potential for AI to be exploited for deceit. Grimes, on the other hand, offered creators free use of AI-generated versions of her voice without penalty. Grimes tweeted, “I’ll split 50% royalties on any successful AI generated song that uses my voice. Same deal as I would with any artist i collab with. Feel free to use my voice without penalty. I have no label and no legal bindings.” While AI can mimic familiar sounds convincingly, it raises questions about the authenticity and originality of the creative process. These events sparked discussions about the future of AI in the music industry and highlighted the need for ethical guidelines and copyright considerations.

Amidst these debates, a balanced perspective emerges. AI-generated music should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement for human creativity. It can democratize music production, assisting those who lack formal training in music theory in creating complex musical compositions, and enabling musicians with limited resources to access professional-grade tools. These AI tools roll up their sleeves to tackle repetitive tasks like crafting drum patterns and honing tracks with professional-grade mixing. They may inspire fresh ideas and maybe help in discovering new music styles or genres.

Online personality and musician Taryn Southern shared that she uses AI to craft lyrics and vocal melodies that align perfectly with the music. This technique serves as her wellspring of inspiration. In her track ‘Break Free,’ she used AI-composed bits that were modified with instrument switches and key changes. SingSong, a system developed by Google, generates instrumental music to complement input vocals. It offers an easy way for everyone to make music using their own voices, regardless of your musical background.

AI music generators might promote or contribute to homogenization of music. Trained on existing musical data, these algorithms might produce music adhering to common patterns, risking less diversity and creativity in the output. Moreover, critics argue that while AI can produce music that aligns with established patterns, it struggles to capture the emotional depth and human touch that define authentic musical performances.

AI-generated music is based on data analysis and trends, lacking the true emotional expression that human artists bring to their compositions. Emotionally resonant music is often a reflection of personal experiences and human vulnerability – aspects that AI inherently lacks. While AI can simulate human vocals, capturing the vibrant nuances of singing remains a significant and evident AI challenge. It falls short in conveying originality, passion, authenticity, and soul.

The Future of AI in Music: Friend or Foe?

Self-releasing artists and the growth of consumer-oriented music-making are already shaping the industry. AI accelerates these trends, leading to an oversaturation of the market and the repositioning of labels as drivers of fandom. With AI driven technologies, labels and companies can analyze a load of songs and see what is likely to be popular with consumers. By leveraging the demographic data they gather, these entities can evaluate the potential appeal of a given musical composition to its listeners. For instance, Musiio, a Singapore-based music tech firm, employs AI-driven tools to recognize optimal songs for record labels and streaming platforms. Musiio’s analysis delves into aspects such as recording quality, likelihood of success, and other valuable characteristics. The founders affirm that this company has the capability to address music volume issues, provide actionable insights, and enhance revenue streams.

On the other side of the spectrum, AI-generated music raises ethical worries about copyright. Since AI learns from vast music datasets, there’s a potential for plagiarism if AI compositions resemble copyrighted pieces. How the industry addresses copyright concerns will influence revenue opportunities for rights holders.

The fear of AI supplanting human producers also persists as AI-generated music gains traction. The sentiment among music producers is divided. Some see AI as a welcome addition to their creative toolkit, while others worry about its potential to replace human intuition and ingenuity, especially in creative domains, such as composing complex orchestral or experimental music.

Bedroom Producers Blog asked 1,500 producers how they feel about AI and the emergence of AI tools in music production. Overall, 86.6% think that AI music production tools will replace at least some of current tools. Even more revealing, 73.1% of surveyed producers think that AI music generators could replace human music producers in the future, at least to some extent.

While these technological concerns might cause sleepless nights for some, for companies like DAACI, a London-based AI company founded by musicians, AI isn’t the job-killing threat it’s often portrayed as. DAACI’s goal is to empower composers to produce authentic, high-quality original music through its meta composition interface. The company’s CEO Rachel Lyske told Audio Media International last year, “It is very much working in tandem with the composer. DAACI isn’t a replacement for a composer, it’s an enhancement of their process. They might choose it to replace their process but it’s certainly not replacing the composer. In reality, most commercial composers already have heaps of options to play with, and we’re just providing a similar [mechanism] for everyone else. We respect that composers do that, and we’re enhancing that approach.”

Final Thoughts

The emergence of AI-generated music sparks both excitement and apprehension. It has the potential to unlock new realms of musical creativity and democratize the industry. However, questions surrounding authenticity, emotional depth, and the displacement of human creators must be carefully considered. Let’s just hope that tracks placed online won’t be utilized as AI training data without the consent of the rights holders. But whether AI becomes a boon or a bane to the music industry depends on how it is integrated, regulated, and harnessed to enhance rather than supplant human artistic expression.