Dear High-School Senior,
Don't rush it.
I know. The excitement of getting away from the place you've spent the last 12-15 years of your life at can be overwhelmingly exciting, but face it: you're going to miss it.
I remember all to well the night before my first day of senior year! I was nervous, but so excited. I remember thinking to myself "in less than 9 months I'll be a high school graduate, but more excitingly than that; I'll be a college student."
Don't get me wrong, I was not and am not that girl who obsesses over her high school days and wishes to go back, because I wouldn't go back if I could. But, I do wish I would've slowed down and spent a lot more time hanging out with my friends and enjoying the last year of my high school career instead of wishing it by and counting down the days until May 1st.
I wish I wouldn't have rushed it.
Because after my first year of college and the beginning of my second; I've soon realized that I shouldn't have wished those days away. Or even set a countdown on my phone. I should've soaked up the memories and made every minute count. Instead of dreading school the next morning; I should've looked forward to spending time with my classmates-- the people who had been my best friends for the past 15 years or longer.
I called myself listening to (and taking) the advice of the students who had graduated before me; but quickly after starting college (in another state; with almost none of my high school friends) I realized how important it was to make that last year really count. I realized how important it was to not rush the year by.
So, take it from me, the girl who went away to college and swore she'd never miss her home town or high school friends, because they'd "talk everyday & stay in touch." You won't. Don't wish it away. Don't count down the days; make the days count. Don't leave there bitter & hating classmates. Get over yourself, make memories, laugh, have a good time, hang out with your classmates and friends-- all of them, be late for your curfew because you're having too good of a time to leave your friends (just once; but let your mom know you're okay), just live it up, because soon enough you'll be at college trying your hardest to make new friendships while also trying your hardest not to fall completely apart because you miss the place and the people you always thought you hated the most.
High school days are not the best days of your life, but college days are. Make the time before bigger, better, and more exciting things count.
Please don't rush it.
Sincerely,
The girl who rushed it
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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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