Charles Esther
Music has always had a complicated, emotional relationship with technology.
Every time a new innovation steps into the scene, there are concerns about it killing off “real” music.
When the synthesizer made its debut, critics claimed it would eliminate the soul of music.
The same outcry occurred with the drum machine, and it resurfaces whenever auto-tune makes its way into a popular hit.
But history tells a different story.
Just like Cher showed us that there was music after auto-tune—just as there is life after love—music always finds a way to evolve.
The Cry for Authenticity
Accusations that technology is “cheating” the music-making process are not new.
What was once controversial often becomes normal or even celebrated.
Think of how electric guitars were once viewed as the enemy of acoustic purity.
Now, no one bats an eye.
Today, the same fears are being projected onto AI in music.
AI in the Studio: Innovation or Invasion?
According to a report by French streaming platform Deezer, about 18% of songs uploaded today are completely AI-generated.
That’s over 20,000 songs per day—double what it was just a few months ago.
Understandably, those numbers might make some people uneasy.
Streaming revenues are already minimal for most artists.
Now, those small earnings might go to AI-generated songs.
Even worse, major music labels like Universal, Sony, and Warner are suing AI music platforms such as Suno and Udio.
Their claim?
These platforms may have trained their models using copyrighted music without permission.
Protecting Artists, Not Fighting Progress
Yes, artists deserve protection.
Their work shouldn’t be copied or mimicked without consent.
But this is a legal and business issue—not a creative apocalypse.
Music, as an art form, will survive.
And AI?
It’s just the newest tool in a very long line of innovations.
When Sampling Was the Villain
Let’s not forget that sampling—now a core feature in hip-hop and electronic music—was once criticized as theft.
Today, it’s seen as a legitimate art form.
Auto-tune also started as a gimmick but is now widely used across genres.
Even the electric guitar faced massive resistance.
And yet, each of these innovations helped reshape and expand musical expression.
The Real Danger: Mistaking Tool for Talent
What should concern us isn’t AI music itself but how we perceive it.
AI-generated songs might sound okay, but they often feel soulless—polished but lacking emotion.
They’re like elevator music, only more expensive.
That doesn’t mean AI has no use.
Far from it.
AI can be an amazing creative partner.
Stuck on a chord progression?
AI can suggest a fix.
Want to try composing in a genre you’ve never explored?
AI can help you jump in.
It’s a great tool for experimentation—but it still needs human input to create something truly meaningful.
Who’s Benefiting from AI Music?
One of the bigger concerns isn’t about AI replacing musicians but about the people behind these AI systems.
Who owns the AI?
Who profits from it?
And were artists’ works used without permission to train these systems?
These are the questions that matter.
Also, let’s not pretend every human-made track is revolutionary.
Many songs share similar structures, melodies, and lyrical themes.
Algorithms already influence what’s trending.
AI isn’t creating a music dystopia—it’s just accelerating a process that already exists.
A Level Playing Field for New Voices
There’s also a potential silver lining.
Imagine a teenager in a remote village with no access to instruments, recording studios, or professional musicians.
With just a smartphone and some free AI tools, they can turn their imagination into sound and share it with the world.
That’s the kind of democratization that can open new doors for unheard voices.
Conclusion: Soul Still Matters
AI in music doesn’t signal the death of creativity.
It’s a powerful instrument that must be used responsibly.
It should never replace the artist but rather support the artist’s vision.
AI can mimic notes, but it can’t replicate soul.
And at the heart of every great song is soul—something no machine can truly create.
