We've gotten through Halloween unscathed (for some). After Halloween come the other two big ones in the Holiday Triumvirate: Thanksgiving and Christmas. I, as a single person, have a love-hate relationship with the holiday seasons, and this is for all the single people out there drowning their temporary relationship blues in pumpkin pie and Eggnog.
First and foremost, being single during the holidays means that SO much pressure is taken off of you. I'm a fantastic gift giver, if I do say so myself. I'm the kind of individual that really pays attention to what my (at this point non-existant) significant other has told me and I really go the whole nine yards to get them "that gift." It could be as sentimental as something to do with our first movie that we watched as a couple, to as humorous as finding an inside joke on a t-shirt. Now, as a single person over the holidays, I can pay attention to the one partner that won't be ashamed of you after having a three hour cry-fest while watching "Love, Actually" for the forty-fourth time in a row: me. I can take care of myself during the holidays, which is always good. You know how I'm gonna spend my day after Thanksgiving? Nah, I'm not gonna shop on Black Friday. I'm gonna turn on a re-run of "Cutthroat Kitchen" and stay in bed all day and it's gonna be GLORIOUS!
Secondly, the holiday seasons is a meat eater's paradise, which is also wonderful. I've impressed parents during the holidays and tried to be on my best behavior, but now, as a single person during the holidays, all I can say is that I have no shame in taking a giant spoon into an entire bowl of mashed potatoes or eating an entire tin of Christmas cookies. Shame? What is that? Nah. I don't have to worry about the pressure of having to try random foods that my S.O's family would cook and feign excitement while eating turkey with the consistency of a shoe.
Thirdly, I can do all the things during the holidays that my S.O wouldn't want to do. I wanna do all those family things that make me love the holidays. Literally, getting lost riding shotgun in a car looking at random houses lights is one of the greatest and most liberating parts of the Christmas season. I can really get invested in what the true meaning of the holidays are: family. I love hanging out with Mama Tait and watching as many Christmas specials as I can comprehend (or until I pass out, take your pick). I enjoy that groggy pre-coffee feeling right before the Macy's Parade happens every Thanksgiving. It's the little things. Yeah, don't judge me, movie theatre audience as I get a large bucket of popcorn and wear an ugly Christmas sweater while watching the new holiday movie and probably cry halfway through; I'm a fantastic holiday movie date and my ugly Christmas sweater appreciates the outing!
So, single folk during these next two months, never fear. Take pride in your cocoa drinking, "The Holiday" watching, carol belting, turkey eating and copious amounts of holiday cheer! But, don't forget the people who really matter: it's the company you're with this holiday season. They're gonna be the ones that you'll remember in the Christmas card. Trust me.
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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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