For the First Time, I'm SCARED of A.I. as a Music Producer

Alice Yalcin Efe - Mercurial Tones Academy
13 Apr 202411:46

TLDRA professional music producer expresses his fear of AI as a music producer for the first time. He explains the challenges of being a musician, such as the steep learning curve, long hours in the studio, and low pay from streaming services. The music industry is also portrayed as being dominated by corporations seeking higher profits, which could potentially replace human producers with AI to save on costs. The producer then demonstrates how AI music tools, which were once not up to par, have now become advanced enough to create tracks in various genres that are indistinguishable from human-made music. He shows the process of creating AI-generated music using different platforms and discusses the implications of AI on the music industry. The producer is both excited and scared about the future of music and how AI might change it forever.

Takeaways

  • 🎵 The speaker, a professional music producer, expresses fear towards AI's potential as a music producer for the first time.
  • 📈 The music industry is described as challenging, with low pay from streaming services and a reliance on touring or additional services for income.
  • 🏢 The music industry is seen as being dominated by corporations looking to maximize profits, potentially by reducing or eliminating the role of human producers.
  • 🤖 AI music tools have improved significantly, with the speaker noting a change from when they were not good enough to now being on par or better than human producers.
  • 🎶 The speaker provides a test for listeners to identify AI-made tracks, revealing that all the examples given were AI-generated.
  • 📊 The AI-generated tracks are not only of high quality but are also trending and have amassed significant streams.
  • 🚀 The process of creating music with AI is outlined, drawing parallels to how chat GPT works, where the user describes the desired track and the AI generates it.
  • 🔍 The speaker notes some technical flaws in the AI's production, such as phasing in the high end, but anticipates these will be fixed in the near future.
  • 📈 The competition in the AI music production space is highlighted, with multiple apps offering similar services.
  • 🤔 The speaker is both excited and scared about the future of music production with AI, contemplating its impact on the artist's soul and the music industry as a whole.
  • 🌐 The reality of AI music production is acknowledged, and the speaker, along with the audience, is left to consider how it will change music forever.

Q & A

  • What is the main concern expressed by the music producer in the video?

    -The music producer expresses fear and concern about AI's potential to replace human producers in the music industry due to its ability to create music on demand without the need for human input, royalties, or arguments.

  • What is the significance of the simple test presented at the beginning of the video?

    -The simple test is designed to challenge the viewers to identify which of the tracks are made by AI. This serves to highlight the advanced capabilities of AI in music production and to set the stage for the discussion on the impact of AI on the music industry.

  • What are the economic challenges faced by music producers today?

    -Music producers face economic challenges such as a large amount of knowledge required to succeed, long hours in the studio, and low pay. Streaming services pay a fraction of a cent, and after deductions by labels, distributors, and taxes, producers are left with around 16.8% of the revenue. Many survive by touring or offering additional services like coaching, ghost producing, or engineering.

  • How does the music industry's corporate structure impact producers?

    -The music industry is filled with corporations seeking higher profits, which could lead to producers being paid less or being cut out of the picture entirely. This structure puts producers at a disadvantage as they are a small part of a larger industry that is primarily focused on profits.

  • What is the process of creating music using an AI tool like the ones mentioned in the video?

    -The process involves describing the type of song you want to create, including genre, lyrics, and mood. The AI tool then generates music based on these inputs, providing alternatives from which the user can choose. The user can repeat the process to refine the output.

  • How does the music producer perceive the current state of AI music tools?

    -The producer acknowledges that AI music tools have improved significantly and are now capable of producing high-quality tracks across various genres. He is surprised by the current capabilities and admits that he expected these developments to occur later, giving him more time to adapt.

  • What are the potential implications of AI music tools for the future of music creation?

    -AI music tools could lead to a future where music is created on demand, tailored to individual preferences without the need for human producers. This raises questions about the role of human creativity and the potential loss of the 'artist's soul' in music production.

  • How does the producer react to the tracks created by AI?

    -The producer is both impressed and concerned by the quality of the AI-created tracks. He acknowledges that they are enjoyable and professionally produced, which reinforces his fear about the impact of AI on his career and the music industry as a whole.

  • What is the producer's opinion on the future of AI in music production?

    -The producer believes that AI will become as good as, or even better than, human producers in some aspects. He is scared of the implications this has for his career and the music industry, but also acknowledges that AI music is now a reality and is not going away.

  • What are the current limitations of AI music tools that the producer identifies?

    -The producer notes that there are some obvious issues, such as phasing in the high end of the music, which he believes will be fixed in the near future. These issues are likely due to the AI's handling of high-frequency information.

  • How does the producer suggest the music industry might adapt to the rise of AI music tools?

    -The producer suggests that instead of resisting the change, it might be more beneficial to adapt to it. He expresses a mix of curiosity, fear, and excitement about the future of music production with AI and is waiting to see how the industry will evolve.

  • What is the producer's call to action for viewers of the video?

    -The producer invites viewers to share their thoughts in the comments, asking whether they are thrilled or terrified about the impact of AI on music. He wants to know how they envision AI changing music forever.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 The Impact of AI on Music Production

This paragraph introduces the speaker, a professional music producer, who expresses concern about the role of AI in music production. Despite his success, including topping Beatport charts, achieving millions of streams on Spotify, and performing at major festivals, he is worried about AI's potential to disrupt the industry. The speaker outlines the challenges faced by musicians, such as the steep learning curve, long studio hours, and low pay from streaming services. The paragraph also touches on the music industry's corporate structure, which seeks to maximize profits, possibly by reducing or eliminating the role of human producers. The speaker then poses a challenge to the audience: to identify which of the provided music tracks were created by AI.

05:06

🚀 AI's Growing Role in Music Creation

The speaker discusses the advancements in AI music tools, which have evolved from being insufficient to a point where they can produce tracks that are indistinguishable from those made by humans. He demonstrates this by showing how AI can generate music across various genres based on a simple description provided by the user. The paragraph includes examples of AI-generated music in genres like deep house, rock, trap, metal, and techno, each created with different styles and vocal types. The speaker also points out some technical flaws in the AI-generated tracks, such as phasing issues, but acknowledges that these are likely to be resolved in the near future. The existence of multiple AI music platforms indicates a competitive market, suggesting that AI's role in music production is becoming increasingly significant.

10:12

🤔 The Future of Music and Musicians in the Age of AI

In this concluding paragraph, the speaker shares his fears about the future of music production in light of AI's capabilities. He admits to being surprised by the current state of AI music tools, expecting such advancements to occur later in the decade. The speaker is not only concerned about the implications for his career but also about the broader impact on the essence of music. He contemplates the idea of music on demand, where AI can create a perfect track tailored to an individual's mood, genre, and lyrical preferences. This raises questions about the potential loss of artistry and the soul of music. The speaker is unsure whether AI will enhance or detract from the creative process, and he expresses a mix of curiosity, fear, and excitement about the future. He invites the audience to share their thoughts on how AI might change music forever.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI in Music

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in music refers to the use of algorithms and software to create, produce, or enhance music. In the video, the producer expresses fear about AI's capability to generate music that is indistinguishable from human-created tracks, which could potentially replace human producers.

💡Beatport

Beatport is a popular music platform known for electronic dance music (EDM). The music producer mentions being number one on Beatport to highlight their credibility and success in the music industry.

💡Streaming Services

Streaming services like Spotify are platforms where music is played directly over the internet. The producer discusses the financial challenges associated with streaming, where artists receive only a small fraction of the revenue due to various deductions by labels, distributors, and platforms.

💡Royalties

Royalties are payments made to artists for the use of their music. The producer is concerned that AI-generated music might eliminate the need for royalties, as AI could produce music without ongoing compensation.

💡Ghost Producing

Ghost producing involves creating music for another artist who releases it under their own name. The producer mentions this as one of the ways many music producers make a living, alongside touring and other services.

💡Music Industry

The music industry encompasses all businesses and activities related to the creation, production, and distribution of music. The video discusses how corporations within the industry might exploit AI to reduce costs and potentially replace human producers.

💡AI Music Tools

AI music tools are software applications that use AI to create music. The producer demonstrates various tools in the video, such as 'Soo' and 'udio', which can generate complete tracks based on user prompts.

💡Phasing Issues

Phasing issues refer to sound anomalies that can occur in audio production, often due to overlapping sound waves. The producer notes that AI-generated music currently exhibits some phasing issues, especially in the high frequencies, but expects these to be resolved soon.

💡Music on Demand

Music on demand is a concept where listeners can request and instantly receive customized music. The producer fears that AI will enable true music on demand, where users can generate songs tailored to their preferences, potentially reducing the need for traditional music creation.

💡Creative Adaptation

Creative adaptation refers to adjusting one's creative process in response to new technologies or trends. The producer is conflicted about whether to resist AI's influence in music or to embrace and adapt to it, reflecting a broader uncertainty within the creative community.

Highlights

A professional music producer expresses fear of AI as a music producer for the first time.

The producer has been number one on Beatport and has millions of streams on Spotify.

A simple test is presented to identify AI-made tracks among a selection of music.

The music industry's struggle with low pay and the potential for AI to disrupt the traditional production process.

Corporations may favor AI to reduce costs, eliminating the need for human producers.

AI music tools have improved significantly, causing concern for the future of human producers.

All the previewed music samples at the beginning were created using AI.

The AI music creation process is similar to chat GPT, where you describe the song you want.

AI can generate music in various genres, including deep house, rock, trap, and metal.

The producer demonstrates the creation of an AI track with lyrics and a chosen style.

AI-generated music has the potential to be as good as, or better than, human-produced music.

The producer is concerned about the impact of AI on their career and the music industry as a whole.

AI music could lead to on-demand music creation, tailoring tracks to specific moods or activities.

The producer is unsure whether AI will kill the artist's soul or provide new tools for greater creativity.

The music industry must now adapt to the reality of AI music production, which is not going away.

The producer invites viewers to share their thoughts on how they see AI changing music forever.