Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making waves in the music industry by constructing songs, mimicking artists’ voices and even finishing incomplete works. But as AI-generated music becomes more common, many are concerned about whether it enhances or diminishes the artistic experience.
One popular use of AI in music is generating covers of famous songs in the style of artists who never performed them. These covers often gain traction on social media and streaming platforms, raising many debates over their legitimacy.
“I see videos of famous rock and roll artists covering other artists, which they never did in real life,” Benjamin Isham (11) said. “Like Kurt Cobain [covering] ‘Champagne Supernova’ by Oasis.’”
Despite AI’s ability to mimic voices and style, there are many limits to its creativity. While AI can generate melodies, harmonies and even lyrics, it struggles with the complexities of combining every element together into a complete and natural-sounding song with depth and flow.
“If you give [AI] one specific task like just vocals or drum patterns, it can accomplish that,” Kenneth Harms (12) said. “But composing a whole piece? It’s really not there yet.”
Beyond technical ability, AI-generated music also raises questions about its emotional impact. Human music often conveys the deep personal experiences and emotions of the artist, something computer software struggles to replicate.
“It can generate music, but it doesn’t have the human touch that makes a song truly special,” Harms said.
Another concern is the issue of copyright and originality. AI systems are trained on existing pieces, leading to debates over whether AI-generated songs are truly new or just simply reconstructed versions of previous works.
“AI is ultimately just copying what people put into it,” Harms said. “It’s not really creating something new — it’s just piecing together what already exists.”
Beyond creativity, another concern is AI’s impact on musicians’ careers. As AI tools become more accessible, some fear they could even replace human artists.
“There’s something about the imperfections in music that make it real,” Harms said. “AI can generate something technically perfect, but it doesn’t have the human touch.”
But despite these concerns, AI also presents opportunities for musicians. Some artists use AI as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement, helping the experiment with new sounds or speeding up the production process.
“It’s not all bad if used right,” Harms said. “AI can be a tool for creativity rather than a crutch.”
As technology advances, many believe AI’s influence in music will continue to grow. While it offers new possibilities for artists, it also has its challenges with creativity, authenticity and legality. For now, AI remains a tool rather than a replacement for human musicians, leaving the future of music in a balance between tradition and innovation.
“At the end of the day, music is about connection,” Harms said. “AI can generate sounds, but it can’t feel. That’s something only people can bring to music.”
