There’s a common expression among college students these days that “Just remember someone from your hometown is still trying to become a rapper.” The saying is meant to help you realize that things could be worse and that you shouldn’t stress about your college career because well there’s still someone you know struggling to be a rapper. Often times it’s said as a joke, but what happens when that guy from your hometown becomes a platinum selling rap artist. This is the case for me and anyone else who attended Grapevine High School in Grapevine, Texas. Austin Post was a student when I knew him. I knew he had a knack for music, it seemed at times that everyone did in that school. He would have friends and classmates listen to his music, but before I knew it, he graduated and not long after I did too. After that I never really thought too much of it, I figured he had gone to a college, maybe make a few songs for fun, and overall lived a relatively normal life. Man was I wrong! It wasn’t until awhile into my freshman year at UNT that I began to hear about a song called “White Iverson” from a few friends from high school. I would give it a listen and when the video dropped, I saw a familiar face! It was Austin Post, now going by the name of Post Malone. It took a little bit for his first song to take off, but when it did, man it caught fire! His hit single “White Iverson” has now been viewed close to 200 Million times on YouTube, and that’s only counting the 2 versions posted to his channel. Pretty soon I was hearing this guy who roamed the same halls as me, went to the same classes, and knew the same people as me, all over the radio. It’s safe to say that my girlfriend’s younger brother thought it was the coolest thing ever! After “White Iverson” Post Malone signed a record deal with Republic Records, went on to open for Justin Bieber and go on his own tours all across the country. He’s now even worked with other artists such as 50 cent and Kanye West, not too bad for a guy that went to Grapevine High School. His newest big hit “Go Flex” seems to be the perfect summer jam as well. Things seem to be only on the rise for Austin. I wish him the best of luck in his rap career, and I look forward to the next big song from the newest rap superstar. As for what this means for me and the rest of the people from Grapevine, Texas is that there really is no reason that we can’t follow our dreams. Well that and our area is going to get a whole lot more popular.
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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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