The pandemic subsided, and I attended my first concert in April, which featured the British singer-songwriter Birdy in Belgium. Birdy's music has had a profound impact on my life, and her voice continues to evoke strong emotions within me. However, the rise of generative AI in the music industry is disrupting the creation, distribution, and monetization of music. AI tools are now being used to generate music in response to prompts, but their output lacks the depth and subversion that human artistry brings. While AI can be a useful tool for musicians in certain aspects like instrumentation and revision, it cannot replicate the complex web of relationships and personal experiences that shape unique and era-defining music.

The real concern lies in how AI technology affects artists' livelihoods and labor, potentially replacing humans in commercial jingles and production work. The scale and speed at which AI can create music raise questions about its impact on the industry and the power dynamics surrounding it. As AI models reproduce likeness and style at an unprecedented rate, it becomes essential to address issues of intellectual property, rights, and the concentration of power among a few large tech companies. The search for the human touch and amplification of creativity, rather than its replacement, may become increasingly important in a world inundated with AI-generated music.