I can’t believe my first semester of college is over. It feels like time has flown by, but at the same time, it feels like it couldn’t have moved slower. College was harder than I thought it was going to be. But not for any of the reasons I thought. I thought for sure the school part would kill me, or maybe the part where I had to be on my own for the very first time. No, the hardest part was (and still is) finding out where you belong. I was in a band for eight years. I’m not in the band anymore, and that’s really difficult for me, because my friends have always been “band people”, or I have met friends through “band people”. I’m not saying I don’t have friends at school because I do, really wonderful friends that I’m extremely thankful for. But, I feel like something is missing. At the same time, I’m involved in so many different things, things I could have never experienced in high school. Another unexpected twist was that I never thought I would miss home so much, I’ve always been the person who’s not afraid to leave, that is until I actually leave. Then, I miss it more than I had ever thought possible, mostly because I didn’t prepare myself for the inescapable yearn for normality, to have routines. At home, I know where I fit in, I know who my friends are, and I know how things work. At the same time, I miss being at school when I’m at home. I think a lot of freshmen (whether it be college, high school, or even sixth graders) feel this, and that’s normal. No one is going to be able to enter a situation completely adjusted, and if you’re one of those people, please tell me how you do it. That’s important to remember, every freshman is going through that same thing. No matter what they say or post on social media, they are not perfect, they are not 100% adjusted, that’s just not how humans work. My first semester of college was not the happiest time of my life, but it was one of the most important times of my life, that’s something I have to remind myself of. I am a better version of myself, and I have accomplished more in my first semester of college than I ever accomplished in my four years of high school, because the number of opportunities that are available has greatly increased. Now that I reflect on it, the first couple months of any year are difficult. It takes us four months to get into a routine, and the end of winter/beginning of spring always seems so much smoother, whether it’s the weather or just our bodies being adjusted. Take everything one step at a time, and take time to reflect on how much you have accomplished. I’m proud of myself for pushing back harder each time life tried to push me down. So, second semester, I’m ready for you and anything you might bring.
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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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