It's been a year of learning. If anyone dares tell you that college is easy they're lying, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it. I've learned so much this year and met so many amazing people that I never would have if it weren't for this school. I haven't had the easiest first year with all of the ups and downs, but this year helped show me who I am and what I want in life. I feel like a lot of people go into college feeling lost or overwhelmed, and even some feel like they know exactly what they want. I think my experience was a little bit of both. For a long time I was stuck on this ideal of what I had to be in order to be successful and happy. I went through life cloaked in an identity that wasn't my own. I had lost sight of who I was. I tried to be the ideal that everyone wanted me to be; I talked the right way and said the right things, but I wasn't happy. Being thrown into a completely foreign world with no one but myself to rely on made me realize this. It was just me, I couldn't depend on my parents to remind me to do things. Suddenly I had this immense responsibility on my shoulders with no clue what to do, and I fell hard. I hit a low that I had never hit before. I had no safety net and suddenly I had to confront all of the things I had been avoiding for so long, and let me tell you that it did not go well. But I picked myself back up. I had to hit rock bottom for me to see just how unhappy I was and that who I was trying to be was causing this. Facing this reality was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was worth it. Soon enough the ideal that I thought I was supposed to be began to fade away. I looked in the mirror and knew that something had to change, and so it did. I began slowly picking away at this ideal self that I had built myself into. I started to see myself for who I was, realize what I wanted and what I was passionate about. I started to see the world differently. I was happy, really and truly happy. I no longer felt like I was trapped in a body and a life that wasn't my own, I felt free. I feel free.
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
