Colin Kaepernick has made multiple headlines in recent days concerning his decision to not stand for the National Anthem. Many people that consider themselves patriotic expressed their heated anger on social media by burning Kaepernick's jersey as they play the National Anthem in the background. In fact, I'm not quite surprised about the opposition that came from the very act of his strong belief to not be a participant of this “honorable act” for this country. I understand that not everyone feels deeply about social injustices in our daily lives. As a matter of fact, reality and facts are not enough for others as being greater than the national anthem that some don’t even know the words for. In fact, most Americans that stand for the National Anthem have very little understanding about the Constitution and what it means. Just like the Ethiopian Olympics runner Feyisa Lilesa, Kaepernick made a political statement about police brutality that is growing exponentially everyday. Kaepernick expressed his belief as stated, “There are a lot of things going on that is unjust that people are not being accountable for and that something that needs to change. This country stands for freedom, liberty, and justice for all. And it is not happening for all right now. When the flag represents what it supposed to represent and this country is representing people that it is supposed to, I’ll stand.” On the contrary, this many other people agree with the statement that this athlete made. Those who do understand are the ones that see clearly the reality of the falling society with no rose glasses on. America as we know it has become a nation that has a sugar coated appearance from the outside with bitterness, social injustice, hate and discrimination from within. The political promise, the social structure, the belief system of “equality” and “justice for all” is just an imagination of something that will never become real. How can it ever be real when our politicians act like grade school students bullying each other, being racist, violent and making fool of themselves in front of the whole world? How can we have a country that promises opportunities but discriminates by race? How can we have safety when someones skin color could easily become a shooting rage for the police? Just like Kaepernick, I refuse to stand up pretending that everything is flowery. I refuse to stand for a system that colonizes the mind with a twisted ideology and false self pride. Truly, those who speak in truth are bashed with hatred but those are the only people that could change the world in where doing the right thing is the new wrong. Lastly, I want to say “Our society is fraught with inconsistencies and absurdities. We claim to believe that all of humankind is created equal in a country torn apart by racial tension. We deem killing to be punishable by death but honorable under the title of war.” -(Jon Foreman from Switchfoot)
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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
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