I'm sure we can all recall that scene from "Mean Girls" where Mrs. Whats-her-face (Tina Fey) tells Cady, "I'm a pusher. I push people." Recently, my sorority did an activity where we wrote compliments to each other, and one of my sisters wrote to me, "I love how you always push people!"
Was that a compliment? Am I a 'pusher?'
In the "Mean Girls" movie, Tina Fey's character is the math teacher who pushes Cady into doing the Mathletes, pushed her husband into law school (who is now divorcing her) and pushed herself into working three jobs. I've always been a 'pusher' for myself—I actually do work three jobs right now, on top of being a student athlete, an honors student and chair of standards for my sorority. But am I a pusher for other people? And is that even a good thing?
I do want my friends to do their best—whether that's school, or financial obligations, or friendships. I'll probably never be the person to unironically say "f*** it!" I'll never feel comfortable going shopping with a sorority sister if I know she hasn't paid her dues this week—I'll never feel good about my friends going out the night before a big midterm exam—I'll never feel like any of that is what I should be supporting for my friends' lives.
I have to question what my role is, though. I'm not a parent or a professor or a Dean of the college, I'm not really in any position to be judging what other people do or trying to change their behavior, am I?
But. But here's the thing. Here we are, 19 and 20 and 21 year-olds, all trying to get through life the best we can. Our friends are our support system, our escape, the people who have our backs. And shouldn't that include caring about each other's decisions? I've had friends talk me into doing some really dumb things throughout my life.. but I've also had friends that talked me out of some bad decisions, and those are the people I trust to ask for an opinion when I need one. So maybe we should let our friends push us a little bit. Maybe, they're our family now, and we need to take care of each other.
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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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