I am an Exercise Science major wishing to pursue a career as an Athletic Trainer or so I thought. Going into the semester that most certainty was my plan, but now I have set off on a new path. My first assignment for my EPA 201 class was to shadow a professional in the profession that I was wishing to pursue. I thought to myself 'oh this assignment will be easy, i can just shadow an athletic trainer here.' But then my professor said something that completely changed my plan for my life. He began to talk about Strength and Conditioning Coaches which immediately struck my interest. I decided to explore this career because although I had no idea in the world what this coach did, I was intrigued by the title of this specific career. As I began search for Strength and Conditioning Coaches to shadow, it was not hard. Strength and conditioning was a widespread career, so i was able to find 6 schools in the area that I could shadow a Strength and Conditioning Coach at. For my shadowing experience I chose to shadow Ryan Duggan at Brush High School. My first day of shadowing quickly cleared up my misconception of what Strength and Conditioning coaches did and did not do. Despite that my interest was immediately sparked because I always knew I did not want to spend my days at a desk and the weight room was a great alternate. Ryan Duggan's career allowed him to spend his days in the weight room surrounded by athletes. I loved watching the work that he did with both athletes and non athletes alike.My exploration of Strength and Conditioning did not end there with my shadowing project, I have had the opportunity to shadow at Notre Dame College this fall as well. Comparing the two programs, I saw two programs with similar goals, but differing means of reaching the goals that they set. The athletes, sport intensity, equipment, and coaching were all different between the two institutions. Despite these differences both of these coaches showed me that they were dedicated to helping the athletes achieve their goals in any way that they could. I fell in love with the creative freedom that the coaches had. I fell in love with the idea that the weight room would be my office. I fell in love with the impact that these coaches were making on the athletes that they trained. Above all I fell in love with a career that a year ago was not even on my radar.
Recommended for you
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
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Student Life![Jenna Pizzi and her mom smiling by a waterfront with a historic ship in the background.]()
![Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.]()
![Towson University]()
![Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.]()
