It’s another Sunday morning and I’m still not equipped with the gear to climb out of bed. There are days when climbing Mt. Everest seems like an easier task than climbing out of bed. Yet, I still find a way to fall out of bed. There’s a moment of accomplishment when my foot touches the ground. I’ve won half the battle. Now, just to get out of bed without hurting myself. No, I’m not hungover. No, I’m not high. I’m a college student, which is basically a synonym for the things I previously mentioned, but not quite the same. As I stand tall, having completed the toughest battle of the day, I walk out of my room and into the kitchen area of my suite. From my window, I can see the sun come out from behind Kerwin’s house and office. There’s a sense of relief as I start another day trying not to fail out of American or die trying. People have always told me that I’m smart, but rarely do academics and smarts go together, so I cherish every day that I have the money and scholarships to afford a higher education. Then, it hits me. I’m halfway through college. It’s kind of weird to think about. It seems like just yesterday that I was celebrating the fact that I would be a senior in High School. Today, I’m terrified that I’ll be a junior in college pretty soon. I’m not an adult, but I’m getting close to that age when people start expecting me to act like one. To be honest, I’m not sure I even know where to begin to start acting like an adult. Do you start paying bills or some crap like that? Yeah, I’m good where I am. I’m happy in the moment, at least for now.
When I entered my sophomore year, I didn’t picture this. At the end of my first year, I moved out of my Anderson dorm with the clear intention of transferring and not coming back. Actually, I almost did. I was this close to enrolling at Kean University and starting over. Something brought me back though. From the late night conversations with roommates to Landmark Festival to finally getting my GPA over 3.0, I can honestly say that it was worth it. If there’s one thing that sophomore year has taught me, it’s to live unapologetically. Live like everyone’s watching and criticizing your faults, but you’re just looking right back at them with middle fingers extended. I don’t know what my head space will be like when I finish my final exam, but I do know that when I finally pack up all of my stuff, I’ll be able to say that I gave it my all...and I’m proud of that.Recommended for you
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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