Finally it's the summer, the summer before your freshman year of college, and it's time for your college orientation. You see posts about what college is going to be like, how you should act, what to do, what not to do, and most annoyingly, posts on how to live your life so you succeed like these random people you don't know.
Let me tell you something: this is the most exciting time of your life, you will be so lit beyond belief. The summer leading up to your first year of college will have you feeling emotions you didn't even think were real. When you finally get to campus for the first real time for your orientation, and you feel what it's really like to be a part of your school, that's when you know you've made it. You're going to be told really dumb things like statistics on good studying habits, good eating habits, passive aggressive ways of telling you how they know they can't tell you not to drink, but if you do, it's the end of the world, and how excited they are about taking all of your money away from you.
I just finished my freshman year of college and all I ever heard was "go to class, study, get good grades, get involved, graduate." But that's not what college is about. Sure, you're there to get an education and make a living, but you're also there to be stupid, figure out what it's like it be on your own, get really randomly drunk on a Tuesday night and live.
Trust me, it's OK if you skip a class, it's OK if you don't study every single night, there is literally no need to be in the library until 4 A.M. studying for your finals, it's a tad bit of overkill. As a freshman I did some pretty dumb things, but I turned out all right. I used these nine months to live, learn and become a more confident person. That is what college is about.
So yes, I encourage you to get involved. Hell yes, I encourage you to go out and get liquor pitchers on a Wednesday night when you know you have an 8 A.M. the next morning. I encourage you to not wash your clothes until you run out of underwear (because laundry is annoying, especially if you live on the fourth floor with no elevator). I encourage you to have that crush on the boy that's three years older than you who has girls wrapped around his finger. I encourage you to live, class of 2020, because if you don't, you might miss out on the best four years of your life.
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 | âś… High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | âś… 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
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Sports
![Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.]()
![Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.]()
