We Need To Talk About AI Music

Andrew Southworth
26 Apr 202409:03

TLDRThe video discusses the capabilities and ethical considerations of AI-generated music. The host demonstrates two AI music services that can create complete songs, including lyrics, instrumentals, and vocals, based on a given prompt. While the music generated is not considered the best, it is surprisingly good and can mimic various styles, from mainstream pop to progressive metal. The video raises questions about the training data used by these services and the potential impact on artists' livelihoods. It suggests that a solution may involve artists opting in to have their music used for training AI models, possibly leading to a new revenue stream. The host encourages artists to understand and utilize these tools, as they are likely to shape the future of the music industry.

Takeaways

  • 🎵 AI-generated music is already at a level where it can pass as better than many human-created songs.
  • 🚀 Two different AI music services were showcased, both capable of creating complete songs from a prompt, including lyrics, instrumentals, and artwork.
  • 🎶 The AI services can generate music in various styles, from mainstream pop to 1940s style, and even progressive metal.
  • ⏱️ The songs generated by the AI were created in real-time, with some songs being around one minute long, and others up to two minutes.
  • 🤔 Ethical concerns were raised about the training data used by AI music services and whether they have rights to the music they were trained on.
  • 💰 There is a debate on whether AI models should pay royalties for the music they generate, as they are creating new content rather than copying existing songs.
  • 🌐 The impact of AI on the music industry could be significant, potentially affecting artists' livelihoods and the way music is produced and consumed.
  • 🔄 The technology is impressive but also poses challenges for the industry, such as the potential for unauthorized use of music for training AI models.
  • 🧩 AI music generation could become another tool in a musician's workflow, similar to a compressor or EQ, where the artist decides the final output.
  • 👍 Indie artists are encouraged to understand and utilize AI music tools to capitalize on new opportunities as they arise.
  • 🔮 Major labels are likely exploring these AI tools, either to adapt or to find new ways to monetize music.

Q & A

  • What is the general perception among artists regarding AI-created music?

    -Many artists believe that AI-created music will never be as good as human-created music.

  • What are the two different services of music creation mentioned in the transcript?

    -The transcript does not specify the names of the two services, but it discusses their capabilities in creating music, including lyrics, instrumentals, and artwork.

  • What type of song is suggested to be created on both platforms in the video?

    -A mainstream pop song about the game Fallout 4 and a 1940s style song.

  • How long did it take for the AI to generate the songs in the video?

    -The AI generated the songs, including lyrics, instrumentals, and vocals, in about 30 seconds.

  • What are some of the ethical considerations mentioned regarding AI music?

    -Concerns include the source of the training data for the AI services, whether they have rights to the music they use for training, and the potential impact on artists' livelihoods.

  • How does the AI generate music that is not directly copied from existing music?

    -The AI generates new music based on patterns and styles it has learned, creating original compositions that have not been heard before.

  • What is the potential impact of AI music on the music industry?

    -AI music has the potential to disrupt the industry, possibly affecting artists' incomes and the way music is created and distributed.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the future of AI music and its interaction with artists?

    -The speaker believes that there will be services developed that make artists happy by paying them for the use of their music in training data and offering opt-in or opt-out options.

  • How does the speaker compare AI music generation to using other music production tools?

    -The speaker suggests that using AI tools for music creation will be similar to using a compressor, EQ, or other production tools, where the artist remains an essential part of the creative process.

  • What advice does the speaker give to independent artists regarding AI music?

    -The speaker advises independent artists to understand and learn how to use AI music tools to capitalize on opportunities as they arise.

  • How does the speaker describe the initial reaction to hearing AI-generated music?

    -The speaker describes the initial reaction as mind-blowing and terrifying, raising questions about the future of the music industry.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 AI Music Generation: Quality and Ethical Concerns

The paragraph discusses the perception of artists regarding AI-generated music and its potential to rival human-created music. The speaker introduces two AI music services, demonstrating how they can create a song based on a prompt within seconds. The services generate lyrics, instrumentals, and even artwork. While the quality may not be the best, it's noted to be good enough to surpass some human-made music. The paragraph also touches on ethical considerations, such as the source of training data for these AI services and the implications for artists' rights and royalties. There's a debate on whether AI-generated music should be subject to the same rights and payments as human music, with an analogy to human inspiration in music creation.

05:00

🚀 Impact on the Music Industry and Artist Opportunities

This paragraph delves into the potential impact of AI music generation on artists, suggesting that it could disrupt the industry significantly. The speaker expresses concerns about the possibility of unauthorized use of music for training AI systems and the challenges in controlling the spread of such technology, drawing parallels with the persistence of piracy. However, there's optimism that a new service could emerge that would fairly compensate artists while allowing users to opt-in to contributing their music to AI training. The paragraph concludes with a perspective that AI tools for music creation will become part of the workflow, similar to other audio processing tools, and that artists, especially independents, should understand and adapt to these changes to capitalize on new opportunities.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Music

AI Music refers to the use of artificial intelligence to create music. In the video, it is discussed that AI can generate music that is comparable to human-created music, which raises questions about the future of music creation and the role of artists.

💡Ethics of AI Music

The ethics of AI music pertain to the moral considerations surrounding the creation and use of AI-generated music. The video touches on concerns about whether AI services are using copyrighted music to train their models without permission or compensation to the original artists.

💡Music Services

Music services in the context of the video refer to platforms that use AI to create music. Two such services are mentioned, which are able to generate lyrics, instrumentals, and even artwork for songs based on user prompts.

💡Mainstream Pop Song

A mainstream pop song is a type of music that is part of the popular music genre and tends to appeal to a wide audience. The video discusses creating a pop song about the game Fallout 4 using AI music services.

💡1940s Style Song

A 1940s style song refers to music that emulates the style and characteristics of songs from the 1940s. The video mentions generating a song in this style, showcasing the versatility of AI in creating music across different eras and genres.

💡Lyrics

Lyrics are the words of a song, which are sung or recited in the music. The video highlights that AI can create lyrics, contributing to the debate about the authenticity and originality of AI-generated content.

💡Instrumental

An instrumental is a piece of music that does not feature vocals, consisting solely of the music played by instruments. The video demonstrates that AI can generate complete instrumentals, which is a significant aspect of music production.

💡Vocals

Vocals are the singing or chanting parts in music. The video discusses how AI can generate vocals, which are an essential component of a song and can significantly affect its emotional impact and appeal.

💡Melodies

Melodies are a sequence of single notes that are musically satisfying. They form the main tune of a song and are a key element in the composition of music. The video talks about AI's ability to create catchy melodies, which is a complex task typically done by human composers.

💡Progressive Metal

Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is characterized by complex song structures and intricate musicianship. The video shows that AI can generate music in this style, indicating its advanced capabilities in music composition.

💡Artists' Rights

Artists' rights refer to the legal and moral rights of artists to control and benefit from their creative work. The video raises the issue of whether artists should be compensated if AI systems are trained on their music.

💡Music Industry

The music industry encompasses the businesses involved in the production, distribution, and sale of recorded music. The video discusses the potential impact of AI-generated music on this industry, including how it might disrupt traditional roles and revenue streams.

💡Indie Artists

Indie artists are musicians who produce music independently of major record labels, often having more creative control but fewer financial resources. The video encourages indie artists to understand and utilize AI music tools to capitalize on new opportunities in the changing music landscape.

💡Generative Music

Generative music is a form of music that is created using systems that involve an element of randomness or algorithmic composition. The video mentions that generative music has been around for some time, and AI is a new tool in this space, raising questions about authorship and creativity.

💡Opt-in/Opt-out

Opt-in and opt-out refer to the choice given to individuals to participate in or decline certain services or actions. The video suggests a potential model where artists can choose whether their music is used to train AI systems, which would affect their compensation.

Highlights

AI created music is already good enough to pass as better than a lot of human-created music.

Two different AI music services are demonstrated, showcasing their ability to generate music in various styles.

The AI services can create lyrics, instrumentals, artwork, and even vocals within 30 seconds.

AI-generated music is not the best in the world, but it is impressive and can evoke the essence of themes like Fallout 4.

The AI services are capable of generating music in various genres, including mainstream pop and metal.

Ethical concerns are raised about the training data used by AI music services and potential copyright issues.

AI music generation could disrupt the music industry, posing a threat to artists' livelihoods.

There is a debate on whether AI-generated music should pay royalties, as it is creating new, never-before-heard music.

The technology is impressive, but its impact on artists and the music industry is uncertain.

The potential for AI music generation to replace human musicians is compared to the rise of digital piracy.

A solution might involve a service that compensates artists for their music used in training AI models.

Artists could opt-in or opt-out of AI music generation services, similar to current music distribution platforms.

The role of artists may evolve to become 'filters' for AI-generated music, similar to using other music production tools.

Generative music has been a topic of debate for years, with questions about ownership and creation.

AI music tools could be integrated into artists' workflows, augmenting their creative process.

The music industry should prepare for the impact of AI on music creation and distribution.

Indie artists are encouraged to understand and utilize AI music tools to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Major labels are likely exploring AI music tools for potential benefits and revenue streams.