“I was raped.” Those three words form a sentence that many people can utter truthfully, but often goes unspoken. As a matter of fact, statistically speaking, one in every five women in college will be raped before they graduate… if they graduate. Outside of college, the statistic jumps to one in every three. Rape, especially within America, has always been a very taboo subject. It’s the only crime that has to be proven “legitimate.” This is often the reason many rapes go unreported. However, the way we as a society look at rape culture is changing.
We, the general public, often perceive the handling of rape cases as the “SVU treatment.” While I am a fan of Law and Order, it’s wholly unrealistic. Rapists often never make it to trial and when they do, they rarely ever get convicted. Sometimes, parental rights can even be offered to the accused. Rape is easily one of the most traumatic crimes for the survivor and their families.
Last Friday, Lady Gaga, 29, released her most powerful music video to date, “Til It Happens To You.” Along with the release, it was announced that a portion of the proceeds would be donated directly to organizations helping survivors of sexual assault. The song was written by Diane Warren, 59, and Lady Gaga herself for the new documentary The Hunting Ground. The film exposes the grim reality of rape on college campuses. Even now, it’s already received very positive reviews. Rape is a very traumatic experience. That should go without saying… but unfortunately, it is not stressed enough.
Upon viewing the video, I realized that I could not recall a time when another mainstream artist tackled such a touchy subject. (Kudos, Gaga.) The video itself is very powerful, showcasing the reality of what sexual assault really is and who is really affected by it. Shot entirely in black and white, it can easily be said that the effect is quite jarring. It’s the depiction of every parent and every woman’s worst nightmare. One can hope that with the release of this video, the attitude towards rape culture will change as well. True justice for all of those victimized will only be gained when we start speaking openly about the issue. Not avoiding it.
You can buy the song on iTunes, following this link.
Watch the groundbreaking new video below and catch Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering’s gripping new documentary, “The Hunting Ground.”
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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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