Will AI and Machine Learning Kill Your Music Career?

Let’s talk Artificial Intelligence. In music, we’ve already seen AI-composed, recorded, and distributed songs on streaming platforms. We’re seeing super cheap AI mastering and video creation tools. And we’re hearing about the threat artificial intelligence and machine learning pose to today’s musician.

In today's Indie Music Minute, Disc Makers CEO Tony van Veen tackles the weighty topic of AI in music and answers these questions:

-How will AI impact the music business?
-Which music jobs are at risk from AI?
-How can AI help artists?
-What are the downsides of AI in music?
-Should you fear AI?
-Do you need to use AI to survive as a musician?

If you’re curious about the role of AI and machine learning in music – and how it will impact you – watching this video is time well spent.

LET'S CONNECT!

#indiemusicminute #AI #music #machinelearning #indiemusician

[rogerbourne]

Well it's all above my head. I still do things the old fashioned way. I want my songs to be something unique that came out of me otherwise AI will want all the royalties!

[DangerousDevilOfficial]

Pretty cool shirt! AI is gonna disrupt a ton of industries. And it already is. The art part of things is already having a profound change. I used to do all my own graphic design. Which isn’t necessarily my favorite part of music projects. But I am good at it after all these years. But now, with Midjourney, I have already made some of the coolest and most original cover art I have ever seen.

That is just art. But you can literally do a music project from beginning to end, INCLUDING videos for music videos! They have already signed (then unsigned) an AI to a record deal.

It is going to put a lot of people out of business on art, video, photography, voice over, music, beat making, narration of books, music mastering ect., at some point. It is getting better and better every day as well. It is depressing to me in many ways to be honest. They tell us if we are good we can adapt. But that isn’t always gonna work. When the entire entertainment industry can get things for nearly free, how can humans compete? Right now, we have that “human touch”. But as the AI learns more and more, it will be virtually indistinguishable from humans.

We already have a glut of content. This will make things virtually impossible as independents. It means we have effectively eliminated millions of jobs worldwide as this takes a foothold. Eventually, humans will replace humans for love and human contact with robots. ☹️☹️☹️

[hazelforu]

People seem to forget that many people already prefer outdated forms of art and production simply for the intrigue, nostolgia, and mystery they can evoke. Some the best creators who's jobs may be replaced by AI will be able to find careers catering to these folks.

[artielark]

Emotions and feelings are key. If society/fans become ambivalent to feelings, artists are in danger of extinction. Love your shirt.

[JDCottonMusic]

Nice review and I appreciate the balanced analysis with the positives.

[anewsongofpraise]

It is scary how humans are alienating humans. As you said Mr. Tony, emotions and feelings cannot be reproduced ever. It will never happen. True songs are created from the heart, not from intelligence and least if it is artificial. This world is being deceive. So, God help us. Excellent choice of shirt! Hope is not designed by AI.

[RodneyAlanGreenblatMusho]

Dear Tony, thanks for the sunny video on a topic that seems very dark to me as a visual artist and musician. You mention that you asked Dall.e to make you a picture in the style of Matisse and you are planing to use it. If Matisse were alive he might want a cut of that. AI creating music and art "in-the-style-of” will be a big problem in terms of copyrights. Already cartoonists are suing for AI comics that are drawn in their recognizable style. Isn’t it possible someday soon anyone can type “a Bruce Springsteen song about trees” and AI could put together the whole very convincing production vocals and all? Would Bruce get paid?

[rosahesendshisangels]

Hi Tony, Informative and encouraging. Thanks!🥳

[CT-Records]

50th like! Tony out here like the Prof. Xavier of music media. Thanks for the insightful video man. I really don't feel threatened by AI. Contrary, I think it will make creating music all the more interesting, fun, and accessible. Like you said, AI can't play live shows! All the best Tony. 🤘

[Spair]

Many tools have made making music easier and more accessible, but AI generating whole compositions and a user being allowed to copyright it largely replaces humans, and should be banned. AI suggesting lyrics, compositional elements, and maybe even mix choices (based on what compressor and reverb plug-ins, etc. you have) is fine with me; but, music loses itself when it's all or mostly by AI.

[CyberPR]

This is so so good Tony - thanks for your insight!

[djpaulcfunkeddub]

THanks Tony, nice clean & clear from a musician

[Lachenmann]

Your shirt is wistfully emblematic of a time in human history when musicians could sell things, and take an active part in American capitalism.

[ivanquandus-bass]

Tony. Asina mes, Ai ta un tool pero tin espacio pa tur hende den e music business.

[pauljsmith]

So, after watching this video yesterday evening, I did a Google search of various AI websites for free lyric creation. I've never had a problem writing my own inspired lyrics, but was curious to see what AI could produce and how it compares to my own. I found one called freshbots that generates various styles of poetry and music lyrics. I input a theme that I'm currently writing, and it spewed out several styles in under a minute. I was fairly bland, but I have to say, it wasn't awful. I could see this being a useful tool for someone who struggles writing good lyrics. If nothing else, it gives a few options to start with, then modify as needed. I don't see this as a bad thing.

[ElementalSoundWorks]

I agree this is gonna lead to a lot of mediocre music! As a music YouTuber on YouTube subreddits, you already see so many lazy people trying to make money fast with low effort content.

These types of people are going to flood streaming platforms with content they didn’t even create and make money from it which I find disheartening tbh.

[maneevalentine]

If the DJ industry did it to live music, this will be the next level of disruption, even DJs will be disrupted, but at the same time may be beneficial to all if taken optimistically.

[BronsonBragg]

How can they kill what is already dead? Checkmate, A.I.

10/10 on the shirt selection, Tony.

[OfficialDJTasawennateken]

People need to stop with the hate on AI and acting scared. Authentic art and music aren't dying, and AI isn't ruining everyone's lives or careers. Newsflash: AI has been around since the 50s! You're using it right now on your device, computer, phone, TV, and Wi-Fi Basically all electronic devices have artificial intelligence in them to make them actually work That TV show you're watching or that song you're listening to or that letter you're typing in on your keyboard it all is being done by a artificial intelligence When you stroke your keyboard to type in something You're not actually typing it into the computer yourself It's going through a wire through to the computer into its artificial intelligence and it's telling it what to do No different than prompting A AI in the technology out now. The only difference is that the media, government, music industry, and movie industry have been using AI to produce content for decades, and now it's available to the public.

And let's be real, concerts are just a gimmick and a scam. You're just watching someone lip sync, and if you're okay with that, then that's on you. AI isn't going to destroy your life or anyone else's. I make my own art and music, and I don't care about AI one bit. It doesn't bother me because I'm not worried about becoming irrelevant.

And can we talk about the hypocrisy? Everyone was stoked about Paul McCartney's AI-generated Beatles song, but now you're bashing others for using it? Come on. This technology gives people who can't afford to make music or art the opportunity to do so. It's not taking away from you or anyone else. You can still do your thing your way, and I'll do mine. I use AI for my album art and videos, but I still create my own music. It's not an either-or situation.

And let me prove it to you - I've been making music for 25 years, and no one's ever really acknowledged it, even before AI was available to the public. It's not because of AI; it's because people are ignorant and disrespectful. They'll click on a song and exit out without even listening. It's not AI that's the problem; it's people. AI just gives others the opportunity to create that you've had all along because of your resources. Also your claiming this video that AI is going to destroy the careers of beat makers No it's not They literally use artificial intelligent digital sound packs and stuff to make beats There's no difference in between what they're using to make their own music and what people are using to make music with AI or art or any other type of thing with AI and plus most people who make beats don't even sell them to people because people don't buy beets really from people They rather make their own so that theory you just threw out there is nothing more than a conspiracy theory.

[voodoodrive-in]

Yes AI will make things accessible to more artists but the difference is they will also be less creative and sound more similar unlike other technologies which merely made things less expensive and gave artists more options.