By: Kieran Woboditsch-Velasco
Music and technology have shared a rich tapestry of collaboration throughout history. Their partnership has consistently redefined the musical landscape from the invention of the phonograph, which revolutionized how we consume music, to the advent of synthesizers, ushering in new genres and sounds. Today, in the digital age, this relationship takes on a new dimension with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These AI-driven tools are rapidly permeating all echelons of the music industry – from record labels and streaming platforms to the very artists and producers crafting the melodies. While their ubiquity raises concerns about the mechanization of the arts, there’s undeniable excitement surrounding their transformative potential. Beyond the world of algorithms and code, AI breathes life into multiple facets of music, from the intricate details of production to the soulful art of songwriting and even the tailored approach to teaching. In this evolving musical tapestry, the union of AI and music offers a harmonious blend of creativity and technology.
The Application of AI in Music
1. Music Production
In the ever-evolving sphere of music production, AI-driven innovations like Audioshake are leading the charge. Founded in San Francisco, Audioshake leverages audio source separation technology. This AI capability delves into songs, extracting individual ‘stems’ and giving producers an unmatched level of flexibility.[1]
Audioshake’s potential is multifaceted. It’s not just about deconstructing songs but also reimagining them. It presents boundless opportunities, from remixes to crafting instrumentals suited for films or commercials. This adaptability is a game-changer for songwriters, allowing them to explore varying musical ideas and dynamics.[2]
What we’re witnessing with tools like Audioshake is more than technological advancement; it’s a transformative shift in how we perceive and create music. It beckons a future where audio becomes increasingly interactive, immersive, and tailored to individual artistic visions.
2. Songwriting and Composition
The marriage of AI with songwriting and composition has paved the way for astonishing innovations. Harnessing vast datasets of musical compositions, AI can birth unique melodies, chord progressions, and even lyrical content. This isn’t about merely emulating existing works but creating fresh pieces inspired by the musical elements it’s been fed.
A fascinating example that underscores AI’s capabilities is “Daddy’s Car,” a brainchild of the researchers at Sony’s computer science laboratory in Tokyo. This track was sculpted to echo the iconic sound of The Beatles, demonstrating AI’s potential to capture specific stylistic nuances.[3]
A prominent figure in this AI-music evolution is Boomy, an AI-powered music generator. Since its inception in 2019, Boomy claims to have woven over 16 million original tracks It crafts music by interpreting users’ prompts, an increasingly intuitive process. Echoing this trend is Google’s MusicLM, an application unveiled in May. Users can merely type descriptors like “calming violin melody” or “distorted guitar riff,” and the AI crafts a corresponding musical piece.[4]
Another groundbreaking domain is vocal cloning. Here, AI studies myriad voice recordings, enabling it to craft a virtual vocal doppelganger. This cloned voice can be guided to articulate any phrase, offering unparalleled flexibility in songwriting and composition.[5]
3. Teaching
AI is reshaping the landscape of music education. Modern AI-powered music software equips educators and students with expansive musical elements, fostering deeper engagement and understanding. For instance, China’s Little Leaf Piano application uses AI sound recognition to provide real-time feedback on tone and rhythm with impressive precision.[6]
Integrating AI into music education enhances classroom resources, advances intelligent instruments, and offers innovative teaching methods. AI’s adaptability promotes personalized learning, allowing for melody and rhythm analysis and guiding pedagogical innovations.[7]
Moreover, AI’s emergence boosts student learning efficiency. It aids teachers in devising effective, tailored courses. Crucially, AI ensures inclusivity in music education. Innovations like the iFLYTEK transcription system and Oxford University’s “LipNet” support students with disabilities, bridging traditional teaching gaps.[8]
Some of the Resounding Benefits of AI in Music
1. Rapid Mastery
The art of mastering, a crucial step in post-production, traditionally required days of meticulous work to perfect a track to industry standards. Today, this landscape is evolving rapidly, thanks to AI-driven platforms. LANDR, an acronym for “left and right,” epitomizes this shift. It not only matches the loudness levels suitable for streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music but, with its advanced algorithms, delivers a polished, professionally mastered track in mere minutes.[9]
iZotope is another frontrunner harnessing AI for music enhancement. Products such as Nectar and Ozone have been game-changers, offering tools that simplify and expedite the mixing and mastering processes. For instance, Ozone’s genre-specific mastering feature empowers artists to refine their tracks more efficiently.[10]
Integrating AI into music mastering is transformative, providing invaluable support, especially to independent artists and producers on a short timeline or a budget.
2. Harnessing AI to Predict Music Hits
Artificial intelligence has carved out a unique niche within the music sector, primarily by revealing patterns and trends in data that might elude human perception. This capability offers artists and content creators insights into optimal promotion strategies, highlighting not only which tracks to push but also the ideal timing to maximize visibility. This is a boon, especially for emerging artists or those navigating social media platforms, often unsure of how or when to debut their creations.[11]
Furthermore, AI’s potential doesn’t stop at promotion. Pioneering endeavours are underway to design AI tools that can gauge a song’s likelihood of commercial success and even assess audience sentiment toward it. While this frontier of AI in music is still nascent, with some aspects awaiting refinement, the pace at which AI evolves promises significant advancements in the imminent future.[12]
Striking a Discordant Note: The Cons of AI in Music
1. Legal Ambiguities
Navigating the legal landscape surrounding AI-produced music is challenging. The central question revolves around ownership. Is it the algorithm’s creator, the AI itself, or the original music owner upon which the AI trained? This uncertainty casts a shadow over AI’s role in future music production. For artists, it complicates matters when asserting that a song bears similarity to their original composition. Tracing back to what precisely the AI was trained on becomes nearly impossible, making it difficult to deduce the original data inputs. This could pose challenges for copyright claims and artist rights in the future.[13]
2. Employment Concerns
As AI technologies flourish, there’s an underlying philosophical question about their potential to produce songs fully autonomously. If AI reaches this capability, the demand for human artists might diminish. While AI offers efficiency and innovation, the potential threat to job opportunities within the music industry cannot be overlooked. Artists, composers, and producers may find themselves competing with algorithms, leading to concerns about the very essence and human touch that music traditionally embodies.[14]
Conclusion
The dance between music and technology has always been intricate, a dynamic duo evolving in tandem to enrich our auditory experiences. With the rise of AI, we are on the cusp of a profound shift in music creation, consumption, and education. While AI’s contributions have unlocked previously unimaginable opportunities, they come with their own set of challenges and questions. As we continue to explore the possibilities and potentials of this union, it becomes paramount to strike a balance that cherishes the timeless human touch in music while leveraging the power of AI-driven innovation. As the next chapters in this symphony of technology and creativity unfold, may we ensure that music’s soulful essence remains undiminished, reverberating with the harmonies of both human and machine.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this response is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. The content provided does not create a legal client relationship, and nothing in this response should be considered as a substitute for professional legal advice. The information is based on general principles of law and may not reflect the most current legal developments or interpretations in your jurisdiction. Laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction, and the application and impact of laws can vary widely based on the specific facts and circumstances involved. You should consult with a qualified legal professional for advice regarding your specific situation.
[1] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney, “AI in the Music Industry”, Financial Times (20 July 2023), online: <ft.com>.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Liam Clarke, “Artifical Intelligence: The Future of the Muisc Industry?” (22 June 2023), online (blog): < recordingarts.com>.
[4] Supra note 1.
[5] Supra note 1 and 3.
[6] Xiaofei et al, “Developments and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Music Education” (2023) 11:2 Technologies 1 at 6.
[7] Ibid at 2.
[8] Ibid at 4.
[9] Supra note 3.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Rabiya Majeed, “Artificial Intelligence in the Music Industry”, University of Waterloo Newsletter (Spring 2021), online: <uwaterloo.ca>
[14] Supra note 3.