You know you’re growing up when summer doesn’t mean “summer” anymore. When free time with your friends revolves around work schedules and summer classes. The school year becomes an all year task, instead of just 9 months. Your freshman dorm won’t suit your lifestyle, and you move into apartments with friends. We soon learn what real bills are, which are a little more expensive than the McDonalds tab you are used to paying for. You still don’t have your life figured out, and are convinced you never fully will, but enjoying every moment is far more important right now. Adventures become more exciting, and traveling becomes more frequent. Spontaneous trips can turn into your best memories. We get restless, our imaginations and curiosity continue to grow, and we are never fully satisfied. Calling your friends to hang out at 11 at night becomes a normal thing because it’s the only time you are all free. We start to realize how much money means in our society when mom and dad aren’t always around to throw us a few extra dollars. High school friends become distant, and you start to see who is really making an effort to be in your life. If you’re lucky, you learn to appreciate the little things, sunsets, a good meal, and good friends. Between rushing to multiple jobs, stressing over school year round, and just worrying about everyday issues you’ll make time for those who matter. Saying no isn’t always a bad thing. You learn not to take everything personally. People change, the person you knew in high school may be completely different now just a few years later. Life will constantly be changing, and people will be coming in and out of your life faster than you think they will. You learn to let go, which could be one of the hardest lessons. You realize there are bigger issues than what you wear out on Friday night. You wish you were still that little kid playing on the playground, without a care in the world. Hopefully, you find an opportunity to grow in every situation life hands you. Make good contacts, you never know who you may need a few years down the road. If you are smart you will do what makes you happy, and not base your decisions off of what everyone else is doing. Growing up is filled with lessons both good and bad, what you learn from them defines who you will become.
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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?
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