AI in Music: Innovation or Menace?

Published Date : 26/06/2025 

Martin Clancy of AI:OK discusses the dual impact of artificial intelligence on the music industry, highlighting both the opportunities and ethical challenges. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a significant dilemma for musicians. On one hand, it offers tools that can enhance creativity and accessibility; on the other, it poses serious threats to their livelihoods. Martin Clancy, founder of AI:OK, an Irish initiative promoting ethical AI use in the music industry, explores these dynamics in depth.

Clancy categorizes AI tools into two main types: generative and complementary. Generative tools, such as Suno and Udio, can create lyrics, melodies, vocals, and even complete songs almost instantly, based on user prompts. Complementary tools, on the other hand, enhance musicians' work through functions like mixing, mastering, session-player emulation, and stem separation, which allows users to isolate and manipulate individual components of a track.

These AI tools are becoming standard in the creative workflow, especially for younger and independent artists. Apple’s Logic Pro, a digital audio workstation, comes with AI-powered session players and stem separation, and is free on all new Mac computers. BandLab, used by over 100 million people, features a Create a Song with AI button. Voice-Swap, another tool, enables producers to legally re-sing demos using approved, royalty-sharing artist voice models.

Suno and Udio have gained tens of millions of users in the past 18 months, largely due to their affordable subscription model. For about $10 per month, users can create up to 500 complete songs. This democratization of music creation has led to some notable AI-generated hits. For example, Carolina-O, an Udio-created homage to Ernest Hemingway, and Verknallt in einen Talahon, the first AI-generated song to become a hit in Germany, though its lyrics were controversial.

AI systems create music by scraping vast amounts of musical data from online sources, analyzing, and emulating it. Ethically, they should only emulate music with consent from licensed or self-owned material. Artists and rights holders should be credited and paid, and AI use should be disclosed to listeners. Unethical use involves training AI on scraped catalogues and publicly available data without permission.

Artists like Holly Herndon, Taryn Southern, and Brian Eno are using AI in ethical and innovative ways. Herndon, a Berlin-based composer, uses Max, a visual programming language, to create custom instruments and vocal processes. Southern’s album I Am AI was produced using several AI tools. Eno, known for his experimental approach, views the recording studio as a musical instrument.

In Ireland, however, there seems to be a noticeable gap in artists exploring AI’s potential. Clancy finds this surprising and concerning but believes it could be a moment similar to the pre-punk era, where a cultural shift is imminent. Eno coined the term “generative music,” though not in the context of AI, but in terms of chance, randomness, and order.

Other AI creations have taken a different route. Heart on My Sleeve, an AI-generated song from April 2023, features vocals that sound like Drake and The Weeknd. Universal Music Group, which represents both artists, filed a takedown notice within two weeks of the song's release, by which time it had already gained significant traction on platforms like Spotify and TikTok.

For every controversial use of AI, there are positive outcomes. The Abba Voyage show in London, for example, uses 3D projections of the band members, created using motion-capture and machine-learning processes. This blend of live music and AI enhances the concert experience, maintaining a balance between technology and nostalgia.

Virtual concerts of late artists, such as Tupac Shakur at Coachella in 2012 and hologram shows featuring Roy Orbison, Whitney Houston, and Elvis Presley, further illustrate AI's integration into popular culture. AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives, from smartphone assistants like Siri and Alexa to in-car entertainment systems like Mercedes-Benz’s Sound Drive, which remixes music based on driving actions.

The challenge, Clancy says, is for human beings to view AI not just as a threat but as a tool for creative exploration. This requires an imaginative leap and a willingness to embrace new technologies. AI:OK’s literacy programme aims to provide educational resources and support for AI start-ups, helping to foster a positive and ethical approach to AI in the music industry.

Clancy acknowledges the apprehensions surrounding AI but emphasizes the importance of adapting to its presence. “The positive message is that AI is just a new technological development, and it’s up to us to use it responsibly and creatively,” he concludes. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is AI:OK?

A: AI:OK is an Irish initiative founded by Martin Clancy to promote the ethical use of artificial intelligence in the music industry.

Q: What are the two main types of AI tools in the music industry?

A: The two main types are generative tools, which create music based on user prompts, and complementary tools, which enhance existing music through functions like mixing and mastering.

Q: What ethical considerations are there in using AI for music creation?

A: Ethical considerations include obtaining consent from artists and rights holders, crediting and paying them, and disclosing AI use to listeners.

Q: Can you give an example of a controversial AI-generated song?

A: Heart on My Sleeve, an AI-generated song from April 2023, featured vocals that sounded like Drake and The Weeknd, leading to a takedown notice from Universal Music Group.

Q: What is the Abba Voyage show?

A: The Abba Voyage show in London uses 3D projections of the band members, created using motion-capture and machine-learning processes, to enhance the concert experience. 

More Related Topics :