Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a sentimental person. The end of the year brings about a certain nostalgia. There is a focus on what has happened in the past year. While I reflect on 2016, I am thankful for many people in my life. I tend to take them for granted, so I thought I would take a moment now to thank those that made 2016 wonderful.
To my parents:
Thank you for all that you have given me. This year, you supported me as I studied at Samford, worked at camp and worked as an RA. These things have all grown me and made me a better person. Thank you for supporting me financially, loving me well and continually reminding me that you are proud of me, whether I feel like I have it all together or it's all falling apart.
To my siblings:
I miss you more every time I have to leave. Y'all keep me laughing. Thanks for all the snaps of Lulu. Y'all make me so proud with all you do and you set the bar so high! I'm thankful that I am the oldest, because you both have exceeded the expectation that I set.
To my friends at Samford:
Thank you for all the life chats, Sonic runs, belly laughs, trips to the caf, hugs and words of affirmation. Thank you for laughing with me and crying with me. Thanks for showing me true friendship that is founded on God. Each of you holds a dear place in my heart.
To my DeSoto girls:
Thank you for getting me through the hardest summer of my life! It was y'all that made me able to laugh at myself and enjoy the hard times. It was such a growing experience and I learned so much from working with y'all. I hope a fraction of your joy, patience, humor and grace rubbed off on me!
To my hometown homies:
Another year of "When is your fall break?" and desperately hoping we can cross paths when we are both home. Thanks for reminding me of all the times in years past--the good, the bad and the awkward! I love hearing about how y'all are doing as we are scattered across the country.
This year brought about some of the hardest times of my life, but through those hard times, I had a support system of family and friends who showed me the love of Christ. They made the hard times good and the good times better. It is because of them that 2016 was a great year!
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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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