It was this past summer and I was at my job at the local pool, I was sitting at the games table, which is one of many responsibilities that I have, I had just graduated college and was still on the search for a job, I was just sitting around and thinking about my life. I was thinking about how I had been on Facebook recently and had seen a few people who I went to school with writing articles for a site called Odyssey, I read a few of their articles and others by people that I didn’t know and I thought, maybe this is something that I could do. It seemed easy enough. I had so much to say and this seemed like the perfect place to say it. I wanted to get my writing out there in a space where I felt comfortable enough to do so. So I found the link to apply and I did. I never expected to get a response, figuring that thousands of other people applied to write for this site every day and that I would never hear back. But then something amazing happened, I was accepted! I was SO excited to start writing, I had so many ideas about what I was going to write about and was eager to get started! I have always loved to write. I have so many old notebooks in my room that are filled with letters to people that I will never send, negativity about myself, my worries, doubts, sadness, quotes, song lyrics that apply to my life and stories about my daily life. Writing has always been my escape from the world around me, a stress reliever. Whenever I am sad or am feeling stressed, I get out one of those notebooks and start writing and immediately feel all of my worries melt away. It was always for me but I wanted to share my writing with others because I felt that it was something that I could do. I finally felt ready to branch out of my comfort zone. The first time that I saw that my writing was published was when I did a few profiles for a magazine at Molloy, it was so cool to see my name associated with something but when I saw my first article that I wrote for Odyssey was published, I was changed. I finally felt like I had fulfilled a dream of mine. I became eager to write more and more, I started to write about all of the things that have been inside my head for so long, I finally had a place to get it all out. I started with my weight loss and then I moved on to things that I have been holding on to, people that I could not forgive and people that I have lost the grief that has consumed me for so many years was finally out in the open and it felt great. I also wrote about the inspirational people in my life, my friends, and family. I love the way it feels when I see an article of mine appear online. When I see people share it and have kind words in response to it, I feel overjoyed! Deciding to write for Odyssey is honestly one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I am so glad that I made the spontaneous decision to apply!
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
