While all of the controversy around 49ers' quarterback, Colin Kaepernick is being talked about, I have noticed a scary lack of patriotism in the generation of millennials around me. We are in scary times and that is a fact. This presidential election has left us all very unsure and horrified at the possibility of outcomes. Many fear Donald Trump and many fear Hillary Clinton, but one thing is for certain: the problems of today are not the problems that the country used to face. One thing needs to be remembered and recognized: being a patriot doesn't mean being loyal to the United States government.
The United States was not founded on trusting and submitting to your government - quite the opposite, in fact. The United States was founded on pure rebellion. The founding fathers pointed out what exactly was unjust about their state of life at the time, and it is A-OK to do the same now. The current age range of millennials is always known as a time for free thought and to question everything you have learned so far, so being skeptical of what is going on in national, statewide and local government goes with that. Always ask. Always question.
Being a patriot is about being loyal to the country and the ideas in which it was formed, so far as to defend it in the case that they may be jeopardized. The American Constitution is constantly broke by the authorities of this great nation, and in seeing these offenses and recognizing them is the first step to being a patriot. The second step, no matter how horrifying or how bad you feel the repercussions will be, is publicly calling them out as wrong. Revolutions are not started and the idea of free thought goes nowhere without other people seeing your point of view.
WARNING: Not everyone will agree with you.
A small disclaimer that I have is noting that your cause may not be a cause worth fighting for, or even justifiably bad. It feels petty even typing this but, these days it seems that so many things pointed out as offensive AREN'T EVEN WORTH THE HEADACHE. Use this disclaimer or trash it. It's all up to you.
The road to being a patriot is never an easy one, especially these days. Left and right people are being criticized for not sticking to the status quo of just "leaving things alone." Pointing out what is wrong puts the spotlight on you for tons of criticism and people want to know what your qualifications are for pointing out unjust issues. Be familiar with your laws, and MOST OF THEM. No, I'm not necessarily talking about the ones dealing with parking your horse on the street on Sundays at a certain time (dumblaws.com), but the ones that coincide directly with the main factors of our everyday life and our everyday rights. Most importantly, know the Constitution, know the Bill of Rights.
The rights we have now were given to us by a group of colonists that dumped tea in the Boston Harbor over a three percent tax. Our generation, the young adults of today, must stand up against the tyrannies we see and set a standard for how we want OUR country to be run. It's time that we take back what the colonists fought so hard to give us and show that certain securities doesn't make it correct to constantly spy on our actions (yes, I'm talking to the NSA). It's time that we show the government that we will not stand for taxation without representation. We will not stand for unjust laws and we will fight like it's 1776.
That's right, millennials. Be patriotic. Be proud of where you are, and in this day and age--be proud that YOU can be the change. A revolution starts with a voice. Your voice.
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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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