I would say that somewhere between a quarter and a half of the articles I write for Odyssey are some kind of advice. Last week, I offered some strategies for auditioning with a cold, and I've also written in the past about things to do on a long bus trip, activities that will keep your brain active over the summer, and some reasons why it might be good or bad to see ten shows in one weekend. But I struggle every time I write an article like that, because the thought that lingers in the back of my mind is: Who am I to give you advice?
Who am I to suggest what you should do?
Who am I to sit behind my computer and publish something that implies that I have it all together, when really, that couldn't be further from the truth?
I don't feel comfortable offering advice through a medium where not everyone will be able to gauge my tone accurately and where my words could easily be misconstrued or misunderstood. Because there's always going to be someone out there who's more experienced or well-versed on a subject than I am, and if they read my article and I've given some wrong suggestion, they'll know, and maybe they'll find it offensive that someone who isn't knowledgeable enough is trying to sound like an expert. Even when maybe that's not what I was trying to do at all.
One of my greatest fears is easily that I won't be understood. And so I over-explain and I backtrack in my advice, so that in case I'm wrong, hopefully people will know I didn't mean to be. Even when I'm writing plays, an area in which I feel somewhat (but not always) more comfortable, I worry that outsiders won't be able to find their way smoothly into a world that before only existed inside my head.
Who am I to advise you, to make an assertion about morality, to tell a story?
Free advice is worth as much as you paid for it--so take it for what it is, and leave what isn't productive for you.
But who am I to do all of that? I'm just myself, and maybe my limited life experiences thus far will help you in some way. And if they don't, I'm sorry, and I hope I haven't offended you.
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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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