Ah, June. The weather is warm, beaches are starting to open, and the air has that feeling that just says "Summer". There's only one problem: you're still in school. And although graduation comes close, you still can't wait until you're finally free from high school, free from the familiarity of the past four years. But there's also something melancholy about the approaching graduation. Soon it'll be the last time you walk through the halls, the last time you got frustrated when your locker wouldn't open, the last time you see your favorite teacher. And it's difficult to discern whether you're happy or sad to see it go. But it doesn't have to be that way. There can always be a balance between these feelings; you can remember the good memories and look forward to more. So here are a few tips to get you through the next (and last) few weeks.
1. Take Pictures
This sounds typical, but it's truthful. Take pictures of your friends. Take pictures of things around your town that you think are beautiful. Capture the memories on film so you can look back fondly.
2. Plan Ahead
Think about college. Get excited. Go to the container store, go to ikea, imagine your dorm. Picture how you want your room to look so you can be ready to set everything up at the end of August.
3. Go on an adventure
You don't have to travel for this, but do something you wouldn't normally do, maybe with people you wouldn't normally see. Leave your comfort zone and see what moments you'll think back on.
4. Read a really good book
Maybe it's because I'm a librarian's daughter, but I'm always reading a book. Reading can send you to a completely different place and change your outlook on so many different things.
5. Get together one last time with your closest friends
Right before you all leave for school, get together. Watch a movie, eat food, talk, and remember everything you've done in the past few years. Every year my friends and I get together and have a fondue party the night before school, and it's the perfect way to end the summer.
Just because you're going away doesn't mean you have to start a new life. If you learn to balance your home life with your college life, make new friends but keep the old, and make lasting memories, you'll be ready to take on freshman year.
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
