Musicians Use AI Tools but Stay Quiet About It

AI tools are being used by musicians at all levels, but many are reluctant to discuss it openly, according to a report from MusicRadar. The Association For Electronic Music's Jay Ahern notes that AI is normalized in music production, with tools like iZotope already in use. However, the training of large language models on copyrighted material without permission is a major concern. Ahern criticizes the 'wholesale ripping of people's creative works' by tech companies. At the Winter Music Conference in Miami, a panel titled 'Artificial Music, Real Consequences' addressed legal implications. Music business lawyer Kurosh Nasseri warned that legal reform moves slowly compared to tech. The AFEM has launched AI Principles to protect creators, emphasizing consent, credit, and payment. Artists like Reinier Zonneveld and Holly Herndon are experimenting with AI trained on their own work, while Timbaland's new venture Stage Zero uses Suno to create virtual artists. Ahern hopes AI will make genres more fluid but insists it should not enrich the few at the expense of others.