The day that you thought would never come is here. You survived your first year of college. Don't worry, it only gets worse from here.
I'm half kidding. What has ended is your year to mess up. When you came to college, you had no idea what it was going to be like. You didn't know anyone, you didn't know what college classes were like, and you had your first taste of freedom. Perhaps you spent most of your nights partying until dawn, or maybe you spent your nights crying in the library. However you chose to spend your hours, it's time for some change.
Your outlook on classes will change
Throughout your freshman year, you were probably shocked at how hard the classes were. You sailed through high school, never having to pick up a book, with straight As. Unfortunately, college is not like that, which you learned. Your freshman year is made with that in mind though. Your first year is made for you to learn how to study and for you to decide what you want to do with your life. You might be able to switch your major a couple of times your freshman year, but you don't want to do it too many times after if you want to actually graduate. Your sophomore year is the year for you to buckle down and decide what you want out of life. I actually changed my major my sophomore year and I'm set. You nail down your life plan and stick to it. It isn't the end of the world if you do change things after your sophomore year, but it will make things more difficult.
Your habits will change
When you first arrived at your new home, you had no idea what to do with yourself. You went weeks without doing laundry, ate out every night, and went to bed as the sun was rising. These things will change. You will learn that you cannot continue to keep wearing that dirty T-shirt for weeks for the sake of yourself and others. It is possible to make yourself look presentable for your classes, even if it is at 8 a.m. Also, cooking in college is an art. You probably have a microwave, a Keurig and probably a few bowls. You'll learn the art throughout the year. Ramen will never be the same. I urge you to put an egg in it when you cook it. And Spam, if you're into that. You're welcome.
You won't want to go out every week.
College isn't always about what you do on your Thursday nights. It makes you lazy. It sucks the life out of you. You'll come to enjoy the nights where you do nothing but turn yourself into a burrito with your covers and watch Netflix for hours. In the end, you won't remember every party that you attended.
You'll appreciate things more.
When you aren't constantly under your parents' eyes and wallet, you'll understand that money doesn't grow on trees and what they give you isn't free either. Your parents worked hard to be able to give you whatever they could. You'll realize how much you are spending and slow down a little.
You'll mature.
Overall, college is made to turn us into functional adults of society. You may think that you'll never get there, but you will.
Your freshman year will begin to form the real you. You'll learn how capable you are of doing this thing we call life. Be excited and welcome your sophomore year with open arms.
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
