The cassette tape, the tape deck, the 8-track tape, and the mix tape.  Not too long ago, these were the implements of culture-stirring tech, transcending spinning vinyl records. Alongside radio airplay and record shops, musicians in those days had to be super talented with big songs and working in tandem with a major record label and sound engineer to produce the hits. 

As technology evolved with multi-track recordings and the introduction of music videos in the early eighties the field of competition within the music industry took on a whole new level of hype and draw.  The radio was not as powerful a vehicle as it once was.  Artists now needed a visual presence which, in turn, became a powerful, potent spellcaster over the masses influencing fashion, culture, and art.  Hence, the 80s music videos of the MTV generation were in full effect and rattling some cages.

With the advent of the internet and the apocalypse of the information age, everyone and their momma, with a webcam and mic, became media superstars, mega influencers, and musical megastars through the social media juggernaut engulfing the entire world. As a result, the world of entertainment, and realms within the music industry, became one large sideshow complete with freaks and a peanut gallery to boot.

With the next evolutionary step, the music industry changed, yet again, with “content creators” running within the ranks of songwriters and artists/performers, creating stacks of revenue through platforms like TikTok and YouTube.   With the total democratization of the digital realm in the music industry, the major label dinosaurs were still sticking to their guns, as they still held ground industry-wise. 

With all that said, let’s put this all back into perspective.  Given the ease created by digital technology and the ubiquitous nature of the internet, it is the fundamental in marketing that will propel a talent above the oversaturated fray of today.  Being uniquely talented, and communicating effectively, is paramount when standing out of the crowd.  So, as a working musician, it is a must to know the market and its trends and how to create music that will stand the test of time.

Innovative marketing skills will invigorate an artist's fan base.  Along with increasing their visibility through various social media platforms, they will have a greater digital presence establishing a strong foundation.  This increased visibility will be important when doing live performances on and offline.  Coupled with monetizing their website and social platforms, they will have a stronger platform for longevity in continuing their musical journey.

In the world of music, and the interactions through technology, two things will be forever constant, originality as an artist in performance and songwriting, and the volume in created content.  Remember, originality is king, and the currency is content in the kingdom of the world of music. 

Becoming a self-made music mogul in today’s world is at everyone’s fingertips, and building an empire is only a mouse click away.  But, with knowledge of the music industry, and wisdom through experiencing it, one can build an empire that lasts.

Mo-Zed Dupree

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The Rise of The AI Musicians

ChatGPT Music Generators and Its Impact

What the!? Autonomous AI bots are analyzing existing music and creating new compositions, even with voices similar to the most popular artists of today, living or dead. As of this moment in time, Ubio and Suno are raising concerns about the future of music and its human creators.

Musicians are raising their concerns, with shock and alarm, as to what has taken place in such a relatively short time, with the release of these and other AI music generators coming on the horizon.

Jen Jacobsen, director of the Artist Rights Alliance, has already voiced an opinion on the subject echoing the concerns of major artists. 

At the forefront are Udio and Suno. Udio was developed by former Google employees from DeepMind’s AI-research side of things and backed by some of the tech industry’s heavy’s.

Will.i.am (and earlier investor in Ubio) is a big believer in using AI to conjure up music from the imagination. So, some artists are looking at this AI thingy from a different perspective.

With Suno, the creators have stated that their AI-generator is geared towards the average consumer while Ubio is staged to work mainly with musicians. 

The creators of these platforms state that AI can enhance the creative process and create new jumping-off points for artists to build upon.

There is a lot of speculation and fear swirling in the new world of AI and the music industry.

One bone of contention is that famous artists are being mimicked blurring the lines for authenticity and its moral implications, hence the involvement of the Artist Rights Alliance.

The challenges to the rise of these new AI-generating platforms is one of ethical and legal concerns. Especially, when it comes to ownership, licensing, and copyright infringements, for one, the problem, is the fact that AI-generated music has no specific artist branding it, making it even trickery for agencies to enforce copyright laws. How about sync license, master license, public performance license, and mechanical license, just to name a few, will they most likely be affected or altered by the rise of AI?

How about the fight for the human spirit in creating music and the market for human creators?

As the saying goes, “Keep your eye on the ball”, this one is moving dangerously fast and curving.

Mo-Zed Dupree

Do you have any thoughts you would like to share regarding this article? Please leave a comment down below.

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