Every breakthrough in music started with resistance. AI is no different.
Every major innovation in music has been met with fear before it was embraced.
MIDI. Drum machines. Digital recording. Sampling. Streaming.
Each one disrupted the industry. Each one was criticized. And every single one eventually became part of the standard creative toolkit.
AI is simply the next chapter.
At the end of the day, this conversation really comes down to understanding what the law says—and recognizing that those laws will evolve, especially when it comes to ownership and AI-generated music.
I’ve been in this business long enough to remember when none of today’s technology existed. Every time something new arrived, the industry reacted the same way: resistance first, acceptance later.
Napster is a perfect example.
Instead of embracing the technology, improving it, and building a sustainable model around it, the industry tried to crush it. And what happened? Ten more versions appeared overnight. The opportunity was lost because fear drove the strategy.
Sometimes it’s smarter to be part of the evolution than to fight it.
The same thing happened with sampling. There was pushback at first. Then rules were created. Monetization followed. And suddenly, sampling became normal.
History repeats itself.
Change is what moves us forward.
Without change, there is no progress nd that mindset is part of what has held back both radio and the recording industry. Traditional radio didn’t embrace the internet early enough. It didn’t recognize the opportunity.
Now the internet is reshaping everything.
Satellite radio was supposed to kill radio. It didn’t.
Streaming was supposed to kill radio. It didn’t.
Every ten years or so, music reinvents itself. Right now, we’re watching another transformation unfold.
Some people will embrace it.
Some won’t.
That’s normal.
Personally, I don’t see AI as the enemy.
I see it as a tool.
And I see opportunity—especially for people who aren’t traditional musicians, singers, or producers. AI opens doors for creative minds who never imagined they could participate in music creation. That matters.
I’ve had conversations with professionals across the radio and recording industries, and right now, most people are operating out of fear.
My advice?
Don’t.
If you’re an artist or producer, treat AI like another plug-in in your toolbox.
Use it to become more efficient.
Use it to move faster.
Use it to explore ideas.
You can sketch out a song in minutes. Create demos quickly. Build concepts. Then take those ideas into a real studio—sing them yourself, replace parts with live instruments, and refine the production.
Think of AI as a creative accelerator.
You might generate 8–10 demo tracks in a short period, then choose the strongest ones to develop fully. That’s not replacing artistry—that’s enhancing workflow.
AI shouldn’t replace creativity.
It should support it.
Use it to get ideas out faster. Use it to experiment. Use it to explore directions you might not have considered. Then apply your human talent, taste, and emotion to shape the final product.
There’s no right or wrong here.
Just perspective.
And a reminder that every major innovation in music started with uncertainty—before becoming standard practice.
Food for thought. 🍎