Times, They Are Changing
How creators and listeners should move forward in the age of AI
This piece started as a bit of a rant about the state of music and AI, but my real goal is to inspire us - as artists and as listeners - to keep the human spark alive.
About a week before the release of this issue, I was fortunate enough to visit one of the greatest and most historic studios in London. I got the full tour, standing in the very rooms where some of my favourite music was recorded. You could still feel the energy lingering from past sessions - a reminder that the recording studio was once a home away from home for some of the greatest musicians to have walked this earth.
In recent years, we’ve all read about the rise of AI-generated songs - and even AI-generated bands. It feels like humanity is racing to substitute any human process, including creativity itself.
When we read about the great artists of different eras, we often discover they faced some kind of “friction” - struggles and setbacks that pushed them to grow into the artists we now admire. AI tools like ChatGPT have proven to be incredibly helpful in many areas of business and daily life - tidying up emails, brainstorming ideas, generating business strategies - but it’s important to remember they are just that: tools. They’re meant to assist, not replace.
When platforms promise that you can upload a rough whistle of a melody and instantly receive a fully produced, generic track, we should pause and ask: What effect will this have on creativity - and on the culture of music consumption?
There was a time when music defined entire decades, when buying and listening to a record felt almost spiritual. Sharing that record with friends was part of the experience, a way of deepening your connection to both the music and each other. But from my experience teaching the latest generation, I’ve noticed a worrying trend: many young people have no music they truly connect with - nothing that excites them or speaks for them. Of course, there are exceptions, but there’s been a clear decline in teenagers having strong musical preferences.
So, how do we move forward as artists - as representatives of music’s present and future?
First, I believe education is key. We must pass on the spark of creativity to the next generation and encourage them to carry the torch.
What should we be teaching?
Patience. We live in an age of instant gratification, where answers arrive in seconds. But music takes time. We must teach patience - for the lyric that takes weeks to get right, for the melody and chord progression that evolve slowly through trial and error.
Endurance through the struggle. Frustration is part of the creative process. The artists who push through writer’s block, technical headaches, or endless revisions will ultimately reap the reward of finishing something meaningful.
The value of support. Creating music requires emotional, creative, and financial investment. Artists should encourage their audiences - no matter the size - to support them directly. Sharing the backstory behind your songs invites listeners into your journey, making them part of the process and deepening their connection to your work.
We don’t know what the future holds. But for those of us who stay in the field, our job is clear: keep creativity alive, support the artists willing to endure the ups and downs, and protect the human heart of music - no matter how advanced the tools become.
Till next time, be bold, curious and keep creating!
