Family. People often associate the holidays, especially Christmas, with family. The two almost become synonymous around this time.
My family tradition as a child was for my dad's side to gather at my grandmas house and have a big celebration. For many years I took this for granted; having all my family in the same place, at the same time overwhelmed me. I remember being more excited to go home than I was to open presents. All the noise, the enthusiasm, the playfulness, none of it appealed to me at the time.
For the last nine Christmases I have been nearly 7,500 miles away from my family and there is nothing I miss more than being overwhelmed. As I have gotten older, and as I have lost the privilege to spend time with my family, I have realized that that overwhelming feeling I once felt was love. I was overwhelmed by the plethora of love that surrounded me.
People often complain about the cons of being with family during the holidays-- the unwanted questions, the judgement, seeing the cousin you find disagreeable, dealing with a crazy aunt, and so on. I envy those people because all those cons are outweighed by the pros of spending the holidays with your loved ones. I miss everything about it, even the things that once made me want to escape. You do not acknowledge how wonderful it is until you are no longer a part of it.
Despite the fact that my relatives are a 10 hour plane ride away, my immediate family is here and I have been fortunate enough to spend the last nine christmas' with them. The magic of the holidays lives on because I am still surrounded by the love of family. I do wish I could be with my entire family, but accept that it is not possible for now. I compensate for their absence by calling them, and we somehow manage to celebrate together through a phone call. All the unwanted questions get asked, I get judged for my life choices, I have a conversation with my cousin whom I find unpleasant, I laugh with my crazy aunt, and so on. With all that, I get the warm feeling that being overwhelmed by love gives you.
Christmas, or any holiday, will never be the same as they once were and I am okay with that. I envy those who have all their relatives around, but I am fortunate to have even the smallest ounce of family to celebrate with. My extended family may be all the way across the world, but their love matriculates into the family that I am with.
Christmas time is family time. Recognize, however, that family is anyone you love with the uttermost sincerity, even a pet. Appreciate those surrounding you, long for those at a distance, and never take any of them for granted because, who knows, someday you might move across the world and have to spend Christmas without them.
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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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