As artificial intelligence technologies evolve at a rapid pace, many professionals in creative positions fear their roles will be outsourced to AI. However, through experimentation and extensive psychoanalytic research, I find this to be highly unlikely.
Music production is a highly technological process, but will producers be replaced by their AI counterparts? According to data collected by researchers at the International Society for Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR), AI overpowering Human Resources will not be the outcome, but rather, we will see a growing relationship between producer and AI.
After conducting an experiment on six individuals who were tasked with learning the workings of AI and implementing their findings into work tasks, ISMIR researchers found that reliance on AI for complete production is not conducive to emotional response. If artificial technologies surpass human compositional elements, adhering to apparent trends where music production is no longer linear, the music produced lacks depth. (Deruty, et al., 37) Should audio-based AI tools replace artistic workflow with piano-roll production methods, music will soon lack creative and emotional value.
The ISMIR concludes that human error is vital to the music production process. (Deruty, et al., 45) Although AI possesses the means to enhance production quality or speed, researchers recommend human beings work alongside one another in cohesion with the advancing technology to emphasize all potential benefits in their work.
Through such conclusions, it is clear that we cannot allow technological replacement within the creative industry. It is therefore imperative to consider the implications of AI tools when educating future creative professionals and composers.
Ohio University School of Media Arts and Studies recognizes such implications of AI and thus attempts to prepare students to identify AI-media collaborations. Program director Josh Antonuccio created an “AI in Media Production and Storytelling” course to educate students through hands-on AI experimentation. Antonuccio’s goal for this course is to enable creative learning that emphasizes how artificial intelligence is reshaping the current creative economy. (Semancik, 2024)
If we do not learn how to work with AI-generated work on an uprise, we will lose creative industries to technologies that lack artistic empathy. As artists, we must learn not to disregard such competition as it enters mainstream media, rather, we should be prepared to assert our visions alongside such production.
When we look toward the future of the music industry, we should not stand in fear of AI but instead recognize the possible benefits it might provide. After a thorough education, we might consider how AI technologies can enhance our creative workspace. Such technology can boost the promotional emphasis placed on produced composition.
The Rolling Stone Culture Council formulates an argument that AI-contingent public relations and promotional campaigns might reach fans more effectively. The algorithms used by AI can analyze data pertaining to target audiences to optimize tailored content and messaging. (Rolling Stone Council, 2024) AI external-relation resources could save time and resources, allocating more time for music professionals to focus on their creative exploits.
These algorithms can also track social media data to identify current and potential fans, generating more effective marketing content and musician-specific ads.
AI has the potential to create immense good for the professional music industry, but we must recognize the power of human creativity. Relying on AI-powered composition might produce accurate beats, but computer-automated composition lacks human essence as it cannot think as we do and only mimics the thought process.
Artistry is what powers professional musicianship, and while AI might be a wonderful addition to the toolbox, it cannot replace the beauty of artistic and emotional value that only humans can share.
Deruty, Grachten, Lattner, Nistal, Aouameur. “On the Development and Practice of AI Technology for Contemporary Popular Music Production.” Transactions of the International Society for Music Information Retrieval, vol. 5, no. 1, Feb. 2022, pp. 35–50. go.gale.com, https://doi.org/10.5334/tismir.100.
Semancik, Alex. “How AI Is Transforming the Creative Economy and Music Industry.” OHIO News, 3 Apr. 2024, news.ohio.edu/news/2024/04/how-ai-transforming-creative-economy-music-industry.
The Impacts and Disruption of AI on Music Industry Stakeholders. https://council.rollingstone.com/blog/the-impacts-and-disruption-of-ai-on-music-industry-stakeholders. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.