The AI Effect: A New Era in Music and Its Unintended Consequences

[@FunnySongGuy]

I think that another effect of this is that a minority of people will value small local bands playing live even more. It’s the human connection that will matter. They’ll be the people who care.

[@mattmarket5642]

True, and many artists will be using AI live in real time, which is already possible. AI will touch everything like computers did.

[@czwirner]

Lets hope

[@markgiles313]

Yes. That's my feeling too. People will search out the real from the fake, especially for live music. And soon there will be live vocal filters so that anyone can sound like anyone. But enough of us will still crave the human connections of playing live instruments together.

[@martin-1965]

Hey man, you know what? I think - or at least hope fervently - that you are right 😎 I jumped ship from the music business in 2012 after 20 years as musician, songwriter, running an indie label, tour managing and then managing a top 5 album/single band. It was like someone flipped a switch and nothing made any sense unless you were a major label chewing on every piece of the artists income from streaming, through merch and into tour income (the final straw for me). With this AI development, the world - and music - is flipping over again BUT, while I agree with Rick that recorded music may not bother many new listeners, I think the "human connection" is becoming more and more important, in every aspect of life. I'm almost as old as Rick now but I notice people of all ages going to see live music in small venues more and more these days. In the face of a wave of fake this and fake that, as human beings we really want something that feels real and we can smell, touch and trust that what our eyes and ears are experiencing is NOT just another algorithm, but is something created for us by other human beings that we can all share - audience and band - together. Now I am in no way totally negative about AI and the new technologies. Cheap tech means I can still record and play with my band from the 1980s even though we live massive distances from each other. It is amazing in so many ways and will bring new creativity to all fields of art, including my biggest passion, music. I just think that, the same as you, what people will desire and flock to will be live music shows, with all their noise, crowds, sweat and stink. I'm off to see a bunch of new bands on Friday night at a dive bar venue that no-one - including me - has ever heard of, and I can't wait. I hope loads more people across the world feel the same in their local town or city 😎 - Sorry for rambling on - TL:DR :- Rock and Roll will never die (I hope) 🎵🎶🎸🥁🎤

[@aaronkandlik]

And even more so- I belobe people will seek out acts that are demonstratively live and playing real instruments and singing. The “raw” aesthetic will be in.

[@decaftundra]

I did a gig on Sunday in London. In a venue with 100 people. There was 3 bands, all great. The 100 people were happy, they were smiling, some were emotional. We had great conversations with the audience afterwards, we shared drinks. I spent 45 minutes with music student nerding about my drumming. We sold CD's (Fucking CD's!!!!!!) and books about the record we just released because people wanted to support us. AI will NEVER replace that. Never.

[@MR_JXB]

Where can I buy the record and book?

[@bodhi9464]

💯 people love LIVE music still 🇦🇺

[@WesleySales1]

I love real music, but never say never!

[@stratstrat644]

I agree that AI might not replace the experience of a live music act at a venue. But consider that a huge majority of listeners don't go to live music shows -- their experience with music is based solely on recorded music, which they listen to at home on speakers, and on their headphones. That is where this guy's predictions will come true.

[@Roman-nj6jc]

@@WesleySales1 electronic music will be the most flooded with AI I guess and this is amazing

[@uphillracer]

I could imagine this bringing more meaning to a band performing live right in front of you, because it’s completely certified REAL

[@brockportstudio]

Only problem with this is that many artists are performing to tracks these days. So there "live" performances aren't "live".

[@Cecrow]

Take a look at what ABBA is doing. I'm not convinced the majority of concert-goers will even care about that.

[@cornelisvanderzeyden3275]

JAPAN has been doing this for a while now. computer AI sings the whole song check out vocaloids. NO ARTIST NEEDED!!! they even do live concerts using holographic projections.

[@andyjohnson66]

Unless it's KISS or Motley Crue

[@jremi]

@@brockportstudio Absolutely! But then, maybe we should insist on "unplugged" performances in small venues. If younger generations are satisfied with AI music, so be it. I will keep on enjoying my old albums and improving my guitar skills. AI can’t take that from me.

[@michaelmullmusic]

Universal could fracture the streaming services by pulling their content, Spotify could generate their own artists, etc etc. The truly sad part is that none of it has anything to do with music and music making.

[@josephmayfield945]

And talented artists will continue to be poor, and struggle to pay bills.

[@211candygirl]

Nothing to do with music making? People are creating their own beats and lyrics and the only thing A.I. about it is changing the vocal recording of the original vocalists voice to the voice of the artist they want. Some people are using existing songs, but not all.

[@michaelmullmusic]

@211candygirl what I mean is that to the corporations Universal, Spotify, etc, all of these discussions and moves are purely financially driven. Yes there are still people involved in making music with AI assistance (for now). I'm just expressing the frustration I have with all these issues with the "music business" that are callous to the creators of the product. Luke we might as well be talking about aspirin; "well Spotify sells these brands of aspirin, but are starting to create their own Spotify aspirin to increase their profits". It just makes me kind of sad to think about music that way. Reality, but sad.

[@lunam7249]

radio is dead..."top40" is dead...tv is dead...3 letter fake media is dead, everyone now bundles thier own favorite links for everything...personalized e-life, this will also become "favorite dj streamer" channel

[@bernardodc9631]

​@@michaelmullmusici think the industry is once more a stone in everyone's shoes because of the money. We'll have to, again, innovate in that regard so artists can continue to create and earn fairly, and for people to consume whatever they want. It will be more democratic, more people in the game, and possibly more money in the system, so a new way of handling all this will be necessary

[@lwa851]

I'm really hoping this will be an ultimate win for the artists who are fantastic live and whose fans like to see live, raw, imperfect, and human music.

[@JoshMobleyMusic]

This is the same argument that was used when Napster came out.

[@lwa851]

​@@JoshMobleyMusic oop I wasn't even alive when it came out. Yeah, I guess I don't think that in an overall, financial sense that those artists will win, but I do think they will maintain a big appeal for the same reason an ultra-high definition vr immersion isn't as appealing as going on a vacation to the real thing. And in a world full of digital recreations of people's voices, live performances become more valuable. I mean, many people in my generation will fork over a paycheck's worth of money to see a favorite artist live. Those who can do it live will be even more valuable in the future as the recorded music industry becomes endlessly saturated with garbage, as it already is for the most part. To anybody with taste, there's no comparison to the real deal.

[@MGriebe]

If people are creating music for music's sake already (some get rich, many do it on the side, and tons do it for just personal enjoyment), and these tools make the entertainment value of the music higher for the last two groups, then yes, the supply of production quality music will shoot through the roof. 'Garbage'? I don't know if it's that. Is it garbage if someone making music uses a new tool to create audio to make it 'better'?

[@emanuellandeholm5657]

Hatsune Miku

[@urphakeandgey6308]

I think there could be a short lived revival. There's not much that's cool about a machine effortlessly generating music for you in real-time vs performing musicians, but things will eventually return to baseline. DJs might become nearly obsolete. Once they pair an AI with Spotify, it's over. Especially if that AI is actually decent at mixing in real time. In theory, it could also generate music perfectly tuned to your tastes (or a crowd's) in real time.

[@robertdean5147]

Two weeks ago Boris Elgadsen won the Sony world photography award for a piece titled The Electrician. He forfeited the award because the work was AI generated and submitted it to prove the competition couldn't deal with art made by that means.

[@papalaz4444244]

the con man with ADHD who thinks ADHD is a superpower? "f you love what you do, you are more efficient than a non-ADHD person.”

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Defensive measures always play cat and mouse against offensive attacks. Having spent nearly 3 decades in security, that’s universal. Around 1999 a group of hackers went in front of congress to make a point, they helped, a little, but all you have to do is read the news to see how much it really matters.

[@solaris70]

😮 wow

[@corail53]

No idea why he won in the first place though - That photo was quite obvious it was done by AI. The people who were judging clearly had never ventured into that world and didn't know what to look for.

[@nathanrocks2562]

I remember reading the article.

[@flaviog.4411]

I’m not a pro musician, I play guitar in a cover band, mainly rock, classic metal. I have to admit that the possible future scenario that this new technology may cause scares me. I’m quite frustrated by the idea that hours and hours of practice, dedication, passion may be overwhelmed by a machine… On the other side I still believe it’s worth keeping on investing my time in such a brain stimulating activity as music. Playing an instrument it’s much more than just producing a sequence of notes. Playing in a band, the confrontation with other musicians is a very powerful way to became a better human being.

[@CSMcVay]

A human playing a musical instrument live is one of the only things that will remain irreplaceable. You’re lucky to have invested in a skill where that’s the case! Almost every skill aside from live human performance will be replaced.

[@user-pq9ji7kt4l]

Live shows will still be created by humans like you and I. Ticketmaster is having record sakes as people want live music. There's nothing like it! No way to capture the experience....

[@swordfishtrombone]

@@CSMcVay Hmm. Wait till the androids take over ...

[@madshorn5826]

I find it funny that when I grew up people were hung up over Echo And The Bunnymen using a drum machine instead of a drummer. Now a band, say Chat And The Haremen, can supplant the vocalist. The problem is not the use of technology. The problem is how we split the money/resources. Why was megastars siphoning off all the money from local artists better for the local artists, than AI tools being used for the same purpose?

[@marcelosantana9311]

@@user-pq9ji7kt4l Ticketmaster manipulates the market. They hold artists hostages to their plataforma and overcharge people. Live show is dead for the average person. 😭

[@Bharg]

People forget. Personality sells more than just music. Human interaction, behaviour and personality are more important than just how the music is. AI Music can get streaming(Which has never been the biggest revenue source of an artist), but not cult following, shows/concerts, etc.

[@landmarkcreations1183]

This is one of the most fascinating videos you have ever made Rick. Crazy times we’re living in

[@shacktime]

That’s putting it euphemistically. I knew when Napster became insanely (emphasis on “insanely”) popular with the zombie hordes that we were in serious trouble and that creative professionals would be the first to take the hit. Literally every single thing I predicted would follow has come to pass. And the worst is yet to come. If the internet doesn’t die we all will. We need an analog revolution.

[@strategery101]

The "music" made by humans is so terrible this era, I can only hope AI can make actual good music possibly

[@HisameArtwork]

@@strategery101 sad but most likely artists will be even more exploited. a lot of young unemployed ppl are gonna riot and burn rich ppl yachts and mansions because AI will replace other jobs of more importance than artists. factories and industrialization cause major uprisings with farmers last century.

[@shacktime]

@@strategery101 If that’s what you think then it’s your fault for failing miserably to see what’s happening in independent music circles. Kamasi Washington is trash? Really? Only a complete idiot would think that. Alexandr Misko? Alabama Shakes? Ambrose Akinmusire? Black Pumas? Ghost Funk Orchestra? Charlie Cause? You need to get out more. A LOT more.

[@shacktime]

@@HisameArtwork The sooner the better. Sharpen your guillotines.

[@JadenRhodesOfficial]

It's all about the ''Human Connection''. As a singer/songwriter myself, just listening to all of what Rick's talking about and projecting it in a very near future is just heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. He is so right when he talks about the evolution of technology in the music production. I remember recording on a 4 track Tascam cassette tape back 30 years ago and then digital devices swept the whole analog realm in just a couple of years. Just like the AI revolution or more precisely an evolution on a whole different level because AI was already helping out with VST instruments and DAWs like Cubase or Protools for example 20 years back. When it comes to AI in music, it'll be there to stay and I have no clue how far it'll go and what the music business is gonna look like, but I know that a whole bunch of people will like it, will care at certain levels and won't at other levels. I'm old school on all of this when it come to music whether I compose music and write songs or listen and experience the music of other artists. One thing I know, I will encourage and stay true to my core values, and I will prefer buying real music made by real artists, real human voices and real songwriting even though I have to admit that even nowadays sometimes it's be hard to know how much ''real'' there is in the end product I hear. Just like Elton John was saying in an interview a couple years back on what advice he had for the new generation of artists and the whole streaming thing and how to make money and live off from your music, he said ''It's really becoming insane and a lot of young emerging artists go viral or get on billboard charts with only one song and they get high on that but it's so fleeting. If you want to last in this business especially now, do live concerts and keep on doing it more than ever before. You can't copy a concert ticket or download a live gig experience.'' To me, the one fundamental thing about this whole AI Sh** is that it cannot reproduce in any way shape or form the ''human connection''. We long for human connection naturally in every aspect of life. With the help of humans programming AI, it could maybe get to a certain level of ''understanding'' and display a sort of ''Autotuned Empathy''. Nowadays, the concept of empathy is so popular with growing narcissistic societies. But the concept of sympathy is fading out or isn't the trend right now and this IS the ultimate level, let's say, where AI could not reach cause if you ask your friends or anybody around you what is the difference between empathy and sympathy, don't be surprised of the answers you hear. Lyrics in a song can bring you to a place of understanding or getting the big picture behind the meaning of the song. A sort of empathy arises, a comprehension of the storytelling. But music on the other hand, will ''enhance'' or color and bring the lyrics, the story to that level of beauty like sugar-coating and make you discover flavours you had not expected or experienced before. Only this song has that taste let’s say. It's a sad song because of the lyrics obviously but the music shows you the degree of sadness of that song. Music is on the level of sympathy while lyrics sides more with empathy. Empathy is like putting yourself in the shoes of someone and getting a certain idea or concept of what that person is going through. Just like in the medicine field, they teach doctors about empathy instead of sympathy with their patients because they say it could be harmful for the doctor if he bonded and had this friendly or human connection and transfer with a patient dying of cancer for example. AI would be the best ones to prevent sympathy and really stick to empathy. But a doctor, an artist, a music fan, all of them are human beings with emotions first. We can't separate that from us. Sympathy is not trying to understand what this person is going through right now and trying to help or find solutions for the person's burden. Sympathy is sharing that burden, taking half of it let's say so that the person can have a better chance at getting back up on its feet. Sympathy is suffering with the person and doing something about it. Empathy is easier or less demanding because it's more on a level of understanding how big the burden is and sending flowers and prayers for a quick recovery! Lyrics can bring you to tears or make you feel any types of emotions but music is that extended part where you will reach another level of a song. Sometimes we experience music and cry, or we feel something so strong inside of us and if a person asks you why this song has that effect on you, you can't give a precise answer as to why that particular song strikes a cord in you and you'll end up saying well maybe it's the chord progression or the sounding of a certain instrument, a melody beautifully intertwined with the harmony and lyrics on top of it or it reminds me of a certain period of my life even though the lyrics are not related to that period... It's just the music...they're landmarks. I don't think that AI will reach that level of emotional intelligence. Just my humble opinion. ✌

[@alexanderthomas2660]

It's true, and it's somewhat ironical. The future for _real_ music will be to go back in time, towards the era when recording technology didn't exist, when the only way to truly experience an artist was to go to a live performance.

[@cesarnsanchez]

why is everybody thinking this technology will only be used for music and not be used by hackers to take your family member's voice, fake a kidnap and ask for money?

[@Grili561]

@@cesarnsanchez I promise you, governments around the world are currently using AI to calculate exactly how to destroy the economies of other nations.

[@RonaldMallaghan-ln4dl]

What happens to the improvisation for starters also the performance!!

[@axhed]

i haven't heard a single ai-generated song that i'd listen to again. i think they're mildly interesting as one-offs, but it will fade quickly. i think middle-tier jingle writers and movie scorers might have to compete with ai, just because of how cheap it will be to use ai. there have been a thousand elvis and michael jackson impersonators, but that's all they've been.

[@gamble510]

For the artist, it becomes a re-commitment to art for art's sake, such as never experienced since prior to monetization. Real Talk, Authentic Speech, Genuine Exegesis, Veritable Proclamation... you get the point.

[@RobertoFrobs]

ok, but what does the artist eat?

[@maxmonies]

@@RobertoFrobs The food they buy from a different job.

[@maxmonies]

@@rob2039 I do think that AI will make stuff better than the marginally talented and the truly rare and gifted artists will still break through, but it does beg the question, how do you get a chance to develop into something great if you don't have a chance to be not so great as you are finding your voice?

[@papalaz4444244]

@@rob2039 Rob @rob2039No videos

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

long term, who will need or want an artist? nobody i mean, it is out of question that we wont be able to compete with ai even the slightest.

[@magiccitymama1620]

I love and admire the way talented HUMAN BEINGS put words together in a song, poem, or book that connects me to them because my journey is reflected in their works. I can't imagine a computer resonating with me in that way.

[@shikamaru3456]

I used to think that way. Then today I listened to Homer Simpson sing "La Gata Bajo la Lluvia Song by Rocío Dúrcal" And broke down in tears, it as my mother's favorite song being covered by her favorite cartoon character. And I realized that the connections we make to our memories and emotions don't care when something is artificial so long as it reaches down to our core.

[@thesalingrealestateteam6760]

Actually my favorite part of this video is when Rick said..”you know why? Cause people don’t care” haha. It’s so unfortunately true. Music has become background decoration for peoples 24/7 TikTok lives. Outside of a small handful of actual music lovers, most people have no idea what instruments make what sound. It’s being cut from all education by our Government. I am visualizing a scene in my mind from 2112 but it’s our future, where he finds this weird stringed instrument…

[@michaelmorse7627]

Or, more simply put, the artist is not an essential, or now even direct part of the art experience..

[@theanotherosc]

Putting it simply, you're a gatekeeper.

[@mokachin0]

it was always like this. not all the people are in love with the music and never really were. Music creation and performing were a privilege. It will stay that way, fortunately or not I don't care.

[@Bluebloods7]

Your concerns are irrelevant, you will be assimilated.

[@nathangaytano1431]

Tbh I don't agree like that "small percent of music lovers" is like a couple billion people, like seriously you think everyone in the world uses tiktok? Like you don't think it is basically just vine where young people only use it? This feels like a very North America/Western centric viewpoint tbh it might not even be western centric.

[@paulh7589]

I'm a classical guitarist who constantly makes minor mistakes and recovers from them. My tempo may speed up or slow down. I play brunches and stuff like that. I don't get paid much, but I am a human being giving you pleasant music and you can watch me do it. I show up with a classical guitar, a coat and tie, a notebook, and nothing else.

[@thejuice1254]

Fucking hell I envy you lol. All you take with you is a guitar, coat, tie and notebook? Maybe I should brush up on my playing and go off grid like that!

[@Kosovar_Chicken]

Get a job hippie

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

"I show up with a classical guitar, a coat and tie, a notebook, and nothing else." Wait, no PANTS? What kinda venues are you doing? ;)

[@user-vb6lq9il5v]

?!

[@user-vb6lq9il5v]

@@PaisleyPatchouli It's a very LONG coat, one might assume.

[@mirrecords]

R.E.M. said it best: “It’s the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine”. Happy to have lived through the 80’s and 90’s and enjoyed so much real music.

[@35milesoflead]

Testify!

[@SleepBeforeYouThink]

Music has been fake as hell lately anyway. I welcome the AI overlords, may they destroy Drake and Taylor Swift. “Black Hole Sun won’t you come…”

[@dano9704]

very true...

[@fixthefernback8030]

"real music" still exists today, humans don't just stop creating

[@sergiodeus3865]

pfff. Real music? poor little soul... You kenever knew real music if you never heard a Simphonic Orchestra playing live. Art has been in decadence since the arise of the XX century what is happening right now is just the reaching of rock bottom.

[@kingkillah101]

This was one of the best Beato-AI videos yet. I can hardly tell the difference!

[@VemSenhorJesus]

Hahahahahahahs

[@billhansen9]

Great video! This breaks my heart in a way. One of the best things about a band like, say the Stones, is their imperfections, or how gritty they are. I am waiting and praying for a renaissance of organic music made with real instruments. Maybe it'll be the hipsters digging on tube amps and vinyl. All that I can do is keep playing my real guitars through my real amps and sing with my imperfect voice!

[@tristanotear3059]

I agree with you about imperfections. One of the most interesting things about real art is how the artist is unable to do what they aspire toward , try though they may. But in that inspiration is heroism. The root of “inspiration “ is “spirit,” that which by definition Artificial Intelligence will never have (though I hear they’re working on it 🤔

[@mantisnomo5984]

I think you could classify Mick's rendition of "Under the Boardwalk" as imperfect. But it is purposely so as a satire? Country Honk? We'll never know.

[@MarkVrankovich]

AI can simulate imperfections too...

[@kdmarrison8845]

Hopefully, we’ll see a return of real live music to many local venues (This was an excellent video by Rick, assuming it’s him & not AI! Who can tell?)

[@brettsmith3213]

I was discussing this with my daughter the other day. Our conversation led to the following. Firstly we appreciate art because of the intention of the artist. The outcome … the art … comes from a result off the artist. The second component comes from how the art is interpreted, meaning how how the content resonates with us or allows us to interpret our own experiences. When we transfer that to to AI we are amazed by the mimicry of the program’s capacity to replicate or to gather together existing art. We are no longer inspired by the art or its intention. It is a critical point of difference. I’m not a Luddite when it comes to AI as I see the incredible benefits of the capacity of generative models to sort through the expansive amount of knowledge and ideas that has been established and provide insight into to this. A white canvas will mean nothing unless there is there is a recognition of the intention of the artist to produce such a thing.

[@Weaselg83]

Very well put. I just cringe with what Rick said, it comes down to consumption and I feel more than most care more about how much we can consume rather than appreciative of the source

[@devononair]

Yes, agreed. Although the people who create unemotional instrumental music for background use in film and games and so on will be out of a job, the people who create art that is designed to convey emotions and resonate with people will still be in a job, because no one gives a damn what some computer feels about love, loss or anger.

[@erthrise8974]

Thank you so much for talking about this. It’s terrifying to be a young songwriter who aspires to produce and write for a living when the whole industry could all be automated and mechanized in a matter of weeks. Eliminates the the whole point and beauty of the creative process.

[@NachoFigueroaG]

Go out and play live. There's something truly fascinating about people on stage playing actual music with their actual instruments, whether it's a guitar or a piano or their own voices. The energy is different, the experience is different, and no machine can mimic that. There's a reason why we listen recorded music but we still go and see those artists play live music. So chill, there's hope, we are humans and we still need live music. Keep writing songs man!!!

[@TheCocoaDaddy]

You know, I'm not sure about eliminating the point of the creative process. Improvisation is something I'm not sure AI will really be able to accomplish. By improvisation, I don't mean basic "deviation" from the main music. I mean deviation in unexpected ways that fit or work. I'm a Rush fan and love the song "La Villa Strangiato". I've heard the studio album version and I've heard many live performances. I actually prefer the live performances when Alex Lifeson (lead guitar) is older because he plays the main solo with much more emotion and feeling than in the early years. In the 'Black Hole Sun' clip played in this video, I heard Kurt Cobain's voice but it didn't "feel" like Kurt Cobain singing. I think he would have sung that song differently. I dunno, of course I have no idea what the future holds in store and we all know AI isn't going away and will simply get better but I'm not sure it will fully replace creativity, as we know if. If anything, for humans live performance of art will become the only way to "compete" (if that's even the right mindset lol) since only then can we really express ourselves in unique and meaningful ways.

[@jaguarandi2]

Write for its own sake and you can be even more creative.

[@84Tacos]

Play live

[@ak47dragunov]

@@TheCocoaDaddy Every AI creation is fundamentally an "improvisation". And who's to say an algorithm won't be developed to have AI adapt to chord and key changes on the spot?

[@jasonstallworth]

Great video, Rick. Because of this, I believe it’s important to consider being an independent artist, learn how to market and build a loyal following. Your loyal fans will support your original work. On top of that, I would think (hope) that some tech geniuses will come up with a platform that only support real artists. There’s always that underground resistance.

[@LukeMaynard]

This is fascinating stuff... terrifying in some ways, but fascinatinig on so many levels. I'm really glad you juxtaposed Cobain & Lennon with Drake & Kanye, because the one thing you know about Cobain's original records is that the kind of vocal processing that is slathered all over the Drake & Kanye tracks are things that Lennon didn't have, and Cobain would have bristled at using, even though some of it was available before Cher broke the Autotune secret. What I find is that AI is really good at spoofing voices that are already heavily processed, and much less convincing when it comes to "natural" singers who have virtually nothing done to them in production but a little bit of reverb and EQ. I watched your tribute video to Gordon Lightfoot last night, and what struck me is just what an incredible vocal sound he produced naturally with virtually no processing. It'll be a long time, I think, before there's an AI that can duplicate what he could do vocally. Could an AI do a convincing copy of Cher's "Believe" from 1998? I think it could. But could it do a convincing copy of Cher's cover of Linda Ronstadt's "When Will I Be Loved" (originally written by Phil Everly) the way she belted it out in 1975? There I don't think so. And it's not because of the talent of the performer, but because of the way things have changed in production from one to the other. Fast-forward to Kanye West, whose infamous live attempt to sing "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a pretty good example of what his natural singing voice sounds like. Could he sell a record without the effects that make him easy to copy with an AI? Even before the recent heel-turn of his career, I don't know. It feels like in some ways, the tastes and styles of vocal production in pop music over the last 20 years have been something of a devil's bargain: the electronic perfection of Katy Perry's "California Gurls" over the organic imperfections of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" has come at the cost of opening itself up to convincing AI duplication. The measure of a vocalist over the next 10 years may not be a question of who "sounds good," since you can get "sounding good" from a box now even more than before. It'll be a question of who "sounds human"-who can make you aware through their singing, however imperfect, that you're listening to a real human being sing about something, and feel some way about it while they're singing it. It'll have the effect of making some singers more "digitally replaceable" than others. And that's a seismic shift in the landscape that everyone should be concerned about.

[@MM-Iconoclast]

Or maybe happy about (full-on bots replacing semi-bots). In any case, good comment.

[@rogerpbsmusic]

Great comment!

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

Sadly, I think you’ll be shocked at how soon AI perfectly replicates singers from the 60’s and 70’s.

[@ThorD4602]

Great thoughts there. Unfortunately time is on AI's side, not ours.

[@PowerRedBullTypology]

Eventually AI will get better and will be able to replicate unprocessed voices too

[@luigiscazzari4724]

As someone with an IT background, kudos to Rick: your short explaination of AI was on point. If the music industry follows the streaming model, we will end up with many indie artists. Streaming services are a money pit, and eventually fragmentation will push towards indipendent creators/artists

[@Drake9X]

Well hopefully that happens, but my gut tells me that unfortunately AI will end up killing any chance of indie artists, like me and my band, of getting an audience

[@Drake9X]

@Just a youtube account i hope

[@ramairgt2]

Brilliant take on all of this. The guys at work were listening to music and it was AI. They had no clue that it wasn't the real artist until I explained it. You hit the nail on the head with everything. I am a bit old school you could say and would rather listen to music through the old amps/speakers rather than off a lap top.

[@216Numbskull]

NO matter what the future brings in AI & technology as a whole. Nothing can replace a real feel vibe a true artist sends from the heart & soul. "NOTHING" Real Talk! Be Cool +++Peace, Funk & Rock n' Roll 4 Your Souls+++

[@puvididdle]

So far there's one interesting use case. HYBE LABELS (Korean) used their artist's ai voice to create 1 song in 6 languages. song is called Masquerade by MIDNATT. Maybe it's a no brainer to come up with that usecase for them since Korean music scene always puts effort in making their songs reach a wider audience, whether by adding more English lyrics to their Korean songs, or making Japanese or English versions of their songs.

[@DenuitBand]

I think you are right about a lot of points on this, but we are so focused on content production and consumption that we tend to forget the only thing that really matters. Its not the likes, its not the views and its not the money, in the end all that matters is deep human connection. Sharing an emotion, getting a response, feeling empathy and belonging. 🖤

[@beatles123]

I agree. AI CAN help that, though.

[@japhyvansan]

Agreed, but many kids are subbing human emotion out with dopamine and ADHD, and naturally feeling suicidal.

[@DenuitBand]

@@japhyvansan The problem is that everything is designed to trigger a dopamine rush. We get addicted easily, long time ago was alcohol and cigs, later drugs, today is episode binging, stories scrolling and Spotify random listening. Sometimes a big shock that nudges us from our routine can make us re-evaluate what it is important in our lives and those small things never really are.

[@DenuitBand]

@Michael Portillo Homunculi Valid points! I don't think we used to gather around a fire for the flames but rather to connect with others around us, to feel as we belong, to combat loneliness. Performing on stage is not just to be the center of attention, but to be a vessel to express the same emotions we all feel. Clubs and laptops are the replacement of the flames in a fire. Live performers are the modern equivalent of the performers around the fire telling stories, singing and making rhythms with primitive instruments. People gather in cinemas to watch stories and emotions, feel what the characters feel and empathize, that is valid for CGI also, as human writers put their emotions in the digital avatars on screen. For now AI is just a tool, if sometime in the future it could feel emotions and not just understand them, it sure will have its place performing live, replacing us, and not just the laptop.

[@DenuitBand]

@@beatles123 I agree, like all the technology we have at our disposal today.

[@unnamedindividual8835]

I’m 20. I’ve dedicated my whole life to learning the art of music, performance, and all that because of my childhood dream of sharing art across the world. Finally I’ve reached an age where I can actualize any sound I dream of and compose songs that express my inner self, and JUST as I’m about to start my career in music, I learn that a machine can do my life’s work in less than a minute. Absolutely crushing. I want to be optimistic about this but I don’t see any real way to innovate for human artists in a world where people will probably prefer to end up having AI create custom music for them EDIT: Wow, so many people immediately replied to this to give encouraging replies. Thank you guys for giving new, more optimistic perspectives on this topic. Maybe I'm too young to have such a doom & gloom look. In the end, nothing triumphs human creativity, it's just that now I suppose art is more decentralized than ever, is all. Really appreciate the postivity, I'm not giving up

[@CasparHarmer]

I don't want to listen to an AI, even if it sounds exactly like a human. I want to listen to YOU. When you make music, you are expressing yourself as a human, with things to say that I want hear. An AI has nothing to say, because it has no lived experience, no wants or fears, no love or hate. I have a feeling that a good portion of the people on this earth are of a similar opinion to me. So... don't despair. Make your music. I think you will find an audience.

[@TheSteelRockerPodcast]

Listen, your WAY to young to be this disillusioned. I have kids around your age...just sort of starting out in life. Your passion for music is awesome....do NOT let this stand in your way...EMBRACE it. Let it help you create the best music you can...get it out there...let people hear it...we're ALL going to have to learn how to use this new technology...I'm 55...I ain't done yet. Go kick some ass...we NEED more great music...we NEED artists like YOU... :)

[@HaleysTusk]

Or… You now live in an age that, more than ever, an artist can reach out to their fans, create their own image & sound and distribute it all by yourself, without the the music “industry’, through the internet. Thing is, there are now 8 BILLION people on this planet, what if through hard work, persistence, dedication & ingenuity sprinkled with luck & talent, you were able to capture .00001 of that 8 Billion? I’d guess you could make a nice fulfilling living. As long as humans began creating, there has always been a technological development that put some of them out of work. But the ones who could flow with the changes succeeded & thrived. Not much different than what happens in nature. I’m old enough to remember when the music industry said that blank cassette’s and people recording songs off the radio would do major damage to their industry 🤷🏻‍♂️ It really depends on how badly you want it & whether you can see an obstacle as a challenge to overcome? I’ve supported an independent artist for over ten years, I don’t listen to the radio hardly at all because I love the live music experience. I doubt I’m not the only one. Good Luck ✌🏻

[@mattmarket5642]

AI, as it is now, still requires a lot of work. You have to create the full instrumental the old fashioned way, then record a solid original vocal performance, then run that audio though the AI filter to alter the sound. It’s more like autotune in its current form than a human replacement. It will evolve though.

[@markgiles313]

Keep at it. Many of us will seek out the human over AI. We will have to adapt to a world full of fakes, but we will still marvel at the real thing when it is played by a human.

[@georgewhite1972]

I still think (I hope) there will be an appreciation out there for artists who write, perform and record their own music, then go out on tour and actually play their music live with occasional mistakes and off key singing. That's what makes it human!!

[@gavinsolomon2711]

In the name of all the gods, yes please!

[@brianlebreton7011]

Great video. It’ll even affect live music as AI plugins will simply change the tonality of a singers voice on the fly. I agree that people will probably always want to feel the awe that comes with experiencing real talent and will look for ways to differentiate between real voice and AI voice. Interesting times.

[@RobotsAreDix]

I was out listening to some live local acts the other night, and the thought occurred to me that these intimate, live settings will be the last stand in what will inevitably become an AI dominated world. I can see a subculture developing of people who require "proof" of a human performance. Where live shows, with live instruments being played become a very real valuable commodity again. While the majority of the population simply won't care, I can see a counterculture developing from this. Like a punk or grunge movement of the past, rebelling against "the machine"...literally. The people that mindlessly accept this have already been conditioned into this and will easily fall into step. But there are some of us who, for years, have been screaming into the void that "something is very wrong here". The rise of AI is a welcome crescendo in this symphony of 💩 that we've been enduring for the past few decades. We can finally separate the mindless robots from real human beings, those of us that refuse to give up our humanity--ZR

[@IcculusVaxt]

come check out what's happening in the jam scene these days!

[@Paul71H]

Live music can draw huge crowds right now; hopefully that will continue.

[@cs292]

I believe this

[@RightNowMan]

Amen.👍

[@vitorisaia]

@God In The Glass duh

[@1bbjjhhjj]

My band is getting serious heat rn, and I think it's the right time because our local scene has been thriving more then it ever has, and I'm honestly so excited about hitting this wave because I truly believe more and more ppl will want to see REAL live bands!

[@staceyplayshymns]

I agree so much! Some things just CANNOT be duplicated by any algorithm... Best of luck!

[@lymanmedeiros903]

so true - can't beat a LIVE band, playing live music. Wish you all the best, rock on!!

[@panhow]

True, live bands are way better since they can be unpredictable sometimes.

[@Naku-SomewhereYouAreNot]

ALL HAIL LIVE MUSIC!!! Although, Ticketmaster has already made attending large live venues like a Gestapo. Soon they won't have musicians to play those venues.

[@wesboundmusic]

Adam Neely - was on here as well talking with Rick - recently made an episode on his channel, where he featured the 8 Bit Big Band who arrange 80ies 8bit computer games music and bring it on stage live. More than 3000 people paid to see them perform live - and in New York, of all places, where you can have the greatest live Jazz in all of the world! (their renditions of that gaming music are largely Jazz-centric). That instilled a measure of hope in me that there's hopefully always going to be people who have an appreciation for the real thing - as Rick's channel and success proves. But this stuff that he demos here... so help us god and fret buzz fairy.... 😲

[@andrewpuhlay3222]

How can anyone watch this video and not feel like everything you’ve done as an artist, musician, producer, has completely and utterly gone to waste. It feels like the 15 years ive spent obsessing over this is just out the window, music has been reduced to *nothing*. I cant be the only one suffering from crippling anxiety with these new AI advancements. Really contemplating throwing in the towel on this one and finding a new career before its too late

[@V01DIORE]

Why? Do true artists stop making drawing because another artist is “better” or more popular than them? Or do they do it for the sake of their own creative expression? Vocal synthesis has been around for ages (such as miku and such before), this is just another layer of proper control over the instrument of the voice to be used by artists which otherwise would be in the sole hands of rich elitist record companies. With this the underground shall flourish once more!

[@manuchalud7455]

If you are an intelligent and responsible person, yes, try to find another career.

[@roro_fosho]

sounds like you're making music for the wrong reason dude

[@smoorej]

I know this is hardly consolation but it’s not just you and music. It’s every field of human endeavor. It’s going to rip through every industry, every art form, every pastime, and obliterate human society as we know it. If you have crippling anxiety it is because you’re paying attention. Many still have their head in the sand, thinking these AI changes represent new “tools” for humans to use, like the invention of the synthesizer in music or the MRI in medicine. These people simply don’t understand what AI is. First it will just augment, but then it will replace. Watch as the software development industry is completely replaced by AI, with 95% of the people employed in that industry no longer needed. Considering Diagnostic Radiology? Humans will be 100 percent unnecessary in that field within a few years. Any information-based job will be gone. The last to go will be hands-on jobs, where actual physical contact is needed. Think Terminator 2, just without the time travel.

[@patogonzalez9057]

The thing is this AI "revolution" is unpaid theft because it uses all human expresion available as a resourse...

[@jamesdeborde]

If I were a major label artist, I would trademark my own vocal sample RIGHT NOW. Then I would scrutinize the "use of likeness" section in my label contract. If I were a demo vocalist for a professional demo studio in Nashville, I would just start looking for another career. If I OWNED a pro demo studio...I would be figuring out how to offer specialized vocalist samples for a premium upgrade: "Pitching to Tim McGraw? Jason Aldean? And Morgan Wallen? For an extra $50 bucks a pop, we can give you alternate AI vocal mixes of whoever you want so that the artist's team can hear what the song would actually sound like with him or her singing it..." Since a pitch demo never gets released...no need to pay any royalties, right?

[@The032750]

I had a 30+ year career in the music industry starting as a "Record Store" manager in 1972 then as a buyer, Warehouse Manager and Operations Manager in the One-Stop Ind. (reselling music label products to retail music stores domestically and abroad). It was a vibrant, exciting and rewarding industry that essentially ceased to exist with the advent of Napster, streaming and the subsequent computer technologies that followed. Things change and I accept that but the older I get the more I wonder if removing the interactive human element from creative endeavors will lead to the demise of art and human creativity in general. Interesting times indeed.

[@theanomaloushousewife886]

Only one question needs asked for the answer to this: What did removing the human element from business do to the field of business? The longer this goes on, the more it appears to me technology was developed by non-neurotypical models of humans trying to stuff us all into their digital world without human contact. And I say this as one who is more cut out for isolation than your average bloke.

[@janezimmerman7987]

@@theanomaloushousewife886 It isn't the technologists that are the problem. It is who gets to control the technology and who and what they serve. When technology serves profit and not people very bad things happen. Things like well over a million killed and sacrificed for the profit of a few in a pandemic as the govt of the US puny few oligarchs and serves the masses up to a virus that wouldn't have existed save for unjustifiable research farmed out to a foreign country. To add contempt and insult to the social murder, the same govt and its wealth-controlled media just decreed the pandemic is over. It is not.

[@matthewchunk3689]

@@theanomaloushousewife886 To add your point: Is the spike of our teen mental health crisis related to the lack of community one traditionally enjoyed in music scenes and other real-world interactions?

[@The032750]

​@@theanomaloushousewife886 It's an ongoing process of human development (?) that likely started with learning how to make fire, the wheel, printing press, Charles Babbage inventing the Difference Engine in 1822, the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) in the 40's, IBM main frames in the 60's and Jobs and Wozniak tore the lid off in the 80's. No going back but I sure hope we know where we're going.

[@theanomaloushousewife886]

@@matthewchunk3689 Let's see, mom and dad working 3 or 4 gig jobs, no healthcare, hopping from this day care to that getting exposed to who knows what all day. Why not just hand our babies over to an iron monkey and call that love? There is no stability any longer for people raising children. We're reaping the results. You can't divide families and expect a healthy nation. Congratulations to the oligarchs for a job well done. Moar slaves!!

[@MrPhilm00r]

You can almost hear the death rattles of humanity and art in music. We were practically there already, but this may be the kill shot.

[@leschatsmusicale]

I heard the death rattles over 2 decades ago.

[@mr.jazzbodkelsey58]

​@God In The Glass 🧟‍♂️🧌

[@marklondon9004]

I'm assuming you've heard of Eliezer Yudkowsky then 😢

[@V01DIORE]

That’s because you listen to the surface of banality, when the record companies shattered the underground artists were allowed to flourish without traditional elitism… good music and artists will always exist this is just one more tool upon previous vocal synthesis which will enable more to make better music in their expression. Another key out of the record company’s hands opening the door to everyone.

[@Heheha329]

​@@erob52 yes but nobody wants perfect amazing music we want to hear intent.Without it it's just " hey check out this cool thing,isn't it amazing ?"

[@texasorange285]

Simply a mind blowing cosmic shift of how deep technology can coexist within ART. Steamrolling the boundaries between organic talented musicians, who have persevered through a sea musical lessons, classical training, endless hours , blistered fingers, unappreciated audiences of…don’t like, not what we’re looking for, come back later….. For the sake Creative Art… Long live the Musicians!!!

[@dipyaman93]

music still needs to be produced. as for the craftsmanship of playing a song through to the end, that is already disrupted by DAW. you can go ahead loop beats and create instrumental sounds using samples, even though you don't know how to play any of them. how composers would earlier write music and sit with musicians to live record the track with the singer, you don't have that. That's why music sounds so bad these days. There is no exchange between artists and sharing ideas and human element that made music what it was.

[@milesroth8732]

Honestly if we're gonna be living in a world where actual musicians with emotion, passion, talent and hard work are replaced by something artificial with no meaning, and people even accept that, I won't want to live in it.

[@IcePhixia2000]

agree

[@afridgetoofar1818]

We're living in a world were people think men can have babies. It's only going to get worse from here

[@odessachen]

music = the soul made manifest. we are almost to the point of having a soul less culture that doesn’t value originality or authenticity and this seems like the nail in the coffin.

[@mylesmcleod2270]

@J-Real Well having just worked the 'Bodyguard' at the Theatre today, I can say that people value an artist, their story and their life. Fandom is not just about music is it? It goes beyond that. It's a very powerful thing and the number one reason people go and see their favourite bands live. It's because they can actually get to connect with them in the flesh. Sure, there's a lot of trash out there musically, but even those trashy songs, mainstream stuff is consumed by the listener who then wants to learn more about its creator. I don't know anybody who cannot tell me a single fact about their favourite musician. We want to feel connected. it's at the heart of why we all love art. People will love listening to AI music too, don't get me wrong, even if they make up stories about the fake artists, (which would be cringe to say the least), I struggle to see it completely pushing real musicians out of the picture.

[@vanimapermai]

This will never happen whilst sure it's a neet trick to be able to switch out artists using the "AI" And sure we can bring back some dead artists using this tech someone has already produced a new Michael Jackson track it's called bluemen But all these have something in common they need a base vocal track that was sung by a human But at the end of the day it will never replace humans and emulating people's voices with AI might even be made illegal. So again even if this tech takes off it will never replace humans. Have you even heard of hatsune miku or other vocaloids they have been running for years and hasn't replaced human artists

[@GeneFJacket]

The saddest part of all of this is that the music industry did this to itself. The technology that so many popular artists lean on, quantizing and autotune and such (the things that took the life and personality out of music) are exactly the technology that's made popular music so disposable that audiences don't and won't care when it's entirely generated by AI because they've spent the past two decades conditioning the listener not to.

[@wrmusic8736]

good thing there is a vast variety of genres that AI will not be trained on, probably ever. Because training it on some underground industrial band that doesn't gather stadiums would take resources better spent on something a lot more profitable. Like cloning Drake's voice. as for pop music - yep it's their problem. But the thing is - it's fair. It was sold as fast food, so it operates by the rules of a fast food. Only as far as 2013 you waited in line in McDonald's to get your stuff, in 2023 you touch a screen a few times and grab your food at the checkout. I'm sure the parallel is fitting.

[@henryholt1359]

If it can do Drake why can't it do Ella or blue note greats..if it gets smart enough it will do anything..mabey a lyrebird or songbird or Eva Cassidy

[@PeterLaman]

Ok. First pop music was degenerated to sound like 'plastic', so now don't cry when the computer that first degenerated it now produces it. But there's more to it. In a Dutch tv show, AI generated compositions in the style of J. S. Bach were presented to a panel of classical musicians, together with genuine, but lesser known, Bach pieces. Of the panel, only the Bach specialists could tell which was Bach and which was AI. And that simply because they also knew the lesser known music of Bach. After all, they were specialists! Ok, all music was performed by people, but AI was well able to produce compositions that sounded a lot like Bach. For AI to credibly perform it, is just a matter of time, or maybe it can already do it.

[@davidguthrie3739]

The music industry was based on exploitation, pure and simple. Now music creation and distribution is democratized, for better or worse. Unfettered market forces are shaping music consumption, again, for better or worse. Personally, I prefer the riches that change has made available to me-like this channel and all of the amazing educational content on KZbin that I was never exposed to. There’s never been a better time to be a guitar player. I even started learning piano as a pandemic project. Music reduced to sound bites is depressing, but it’s not the whole story. Look at the success of long form interviews. Again, this podcast is a prime example. There is a hunger for depth and an audience for it that will never go away.

[@richardsisk1770]

Exactly. Brilliant point.

[@scallywag1654]

Your lighting looks fantastic! Your studio looks so warm and inviting. Nicely done!

[@jean-doturgis3896]

It’s all fake light…

[@deirdre108]

Green screen AI

[@TheMattmatic]

@@deirdre108 It really had me believing Rick has a bunch of real amps for a minute there

[@deirdre108]

@@TheMattmatic 😂

[@B0K1T0]

@@TheRealDavidFarmer Obviously, that video was AI-generated as well

[@RogerBadgerDSFlyer]

I always love to hear what Rick has to say. I regard his opinion on AI very highly because of his thorough experience and knowledge of the music business. It certainly ain’t going away. We have to figure out how to live with it, use it fairly and wisely and avoid participating in a race to the bottom for professional musicians. How to do that? I have no idea! I love making music, and I’d hate for an algorithm to whoop me at it in a few seconds.

[@TallicaMan1986]

like with any new tech. We're forced to wander the darkness and stumble around for a bit until someone has a very obvious idea no one hasn't thought of before.

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

AI can't whoop you. It can't tell your story, musically. Only you can.

[@alistersutherland3688]

It's been a race to the bottom for pro musicians for a long time now. Unfortunately.

[@jirskyrjenkins1959]

I read a lot of comments about how "AI will never replace the human connection", but I think those desires will become niche. I think within a fairly short timeframe AI will become so good, it will start to offer songs that are generated specifically for an individual's tastes, the same way that platforms like YT or Spotify are already pretty good at predicting new content that may interest you. The difference here will be that the content will be iteratively generated based on your preferences, so it may end up that people aren't even listening to the same songs, but rather what the AI guesses you want in a new song, based on things you have liked in the past. This may be especially true considering most modern music consumption is personal - portable players, streaming accounts, headphones rather than group consumption (concerts, clubs, speakers).

[@hugogreen13]

Atomization of society by way of algorithms. Same as social media

[@joaog5774]

I couldn't agree more! I believe there's no turning point from this. Human-machine interaction will only grow and grow, until we somehow morph into a hybrid species.

[@osiris_blanche]

You are optimistic ^_^ Most people will enjoy this feature. It doesn't take much effort for mainstream to adapt and all will like same tune and eat same fast food and generate similar art (like same filters with the selfies) Nobody will care and everyone will be so bored within a matter of seconds. And no one will want to make anything themselves bc they've grown to become so damn lazy along this "automated" world. Eventually, AI will slow down, hit a wall & deteriorate, turn into junk and irrelevant. Humans will be dumb and Billionaires would have set sail to another planet (if not destroyed on that ship in the midst). And the meek shall inherit the earth. ;) Junk science. Realistically, AI will encourage & inspire the creatives and inventors new possibilities to fix the pollution, sustain clean energy, solar power the world, hopefully give the disable a new chance to become mobile & independent. But with every new invention, there will always be destruction first.

[@attabotty]

You bring up a really good point. 🤔

[@peb2398]

So because redefinition or elimination of the human element in music is inevitable (if I am understanding your comment) everyone just needs to get over it and move on?

[@healthypickle]

Rick, your channel has always been a place of wonder, and when you tackle the big conunundrums of our time, it becomes even more fascinating. One of those few places on the internet where everything comes from a place where love is the norm. Bravo.

[@paulgordon1595]

Great points, Rick. I’m 30 years old. I will have to finish my time here on Earth as this technology develops further, and my children will grow up in a world totally immersed in this new reality. I enjoyed this quite a bit and I hope you continue to make content discussing what might very well be the last period of human musical ingenuity.

[@brianmurphy5313]

It is unimaginably insane what is to come. In every direction imaginable, and in ways and to extents unimaginable. I wish you the best, brother.

[@namegoeshere2805]

I’m almost 35. I don’t know about you but I was experiencing some uncomfortable existential dread toward the end of this video

[@dontbothertoreply9755]

try not to die in the civil war man.

[@namegoeshere2805]

@@dontbothertoreply9755 I think the civil war is probably going to resemble something close to all of us just annoying each other to death

[@benh9350]

No doubt. I have a 9 year old niece who enjoys her iPad and when I said something about a radio station she said, “what’s a radio station?” Um what? She said, “I have modern logic.” We have to remember, it’s just technology, go give someone a hug.

[@nino369]

Once again you are providing us with a thoughtful insight of music today. What is happening it's kind of scary for us that spent all our life on learning our craft. Here is my thought and hope about this: LIVE MUSIC WILL BE BACK!!! Yes, the sales of recorded and streamed music will still happen (as little as it's happening right now), but people will re-appreciate the value of live performances. You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one....

[@iluzjonista]

Actually very much this. Copycat spill out will pollute whatever there is left, and so the people who do care will go out and get the real stuff where it has always been. That is at live performances. Digital music will be worth less and less with progressing homogenization, whilst people who can play will be scarce and wanted.

[@helltao777]

live music played by real musicians or by 3D AI holograms ?

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@helltao777 It's getting to the point where "live" music is acts pretending to play along with backing tracks because they can't recreate their overproduced recordings in a live setting

[@markgiles313]

Yes, yes. YES. There may be fewer of us, but we will still need to practice our craft and connect directly with other humans.

[@everythingpotatoversion1201]

I love this comment..and hopefully it happen

[@MrEmanuelw]

I actually love going to jazz gigs because of the improvisation and to see a group make musical conversation...I don't really see that go away...however...with AI popular music is gonna be challenged even more. Maybe improvisational music in popular music will become bigger again?

[@ChrisWhiteAuthor]

Spot on, Rick. What's going to get really interesting is when someone starts combining vocalist sound signatures to craft an entirely new AI artist. Imagine 1/3 Freddie, 1/3 Peter Gabriel and 1/3 Robert Plant, artfully blended to sing an entirely original song. Who sues? Who is entitled to what, apart from the songwriter? This is going to be NUTS. 😂

[@lucasvasconcelos5705]

I would so love to hear Jim Morrison again, and Freddie as well

[@janezimmerman7987]

@@lucasvasconcelos5705 Thankfully, you can listen to their recordings.

[@precariousjoe856]

It's easy for humans or AI to imitate a similar sound or style. Maybe artist's can become better artist's and stop trying to be like everyone else.

[@Jrockten]

I hate most of the “vanilla” AI Generations happening right now where AI is just copying something that already exists, like Drake’s voice for instance. But THIS idea actually sounds pretty cool, it’s a more creative and interesting use of the technology. In this hypothetical the AI is not being used to replace the artist, it’s being used as a new creative tool to allow artists to make things never heard before and not otherwise possible. That’s genuinely a really cool prospect and that’s what AI SHOULD be used for. It feels like an egregious waste of technological potential to just make a simple generation of something humans are already capable of on their own. No, get creative, get experimental, let’s see what this stuff can REALLY do! I have no interest in AI music if it’s just going to sound the exact same as regular music.

[@morisg2915]

Or imagine mixing all of those 3 vocalists, like paint, to create a hybrid vocal? It’s nuts and a sad dull world is at our doorstep.

[@ObiWanKannabis07]

Great video as always Rick! Just let me get this straight...those singers that have spent YEARS sounding like robots by over-using autotune and similar plugins, are now pissed because a computer can easily sound just like them?...They have "trained" their audience to actually like that voice style that (in my opinion) hides all the nuances of a really good singing voice. Of course they can be replaced by computers now. Maybe this was the big labels plan all along!! Get the people to enjoy robot-like singing and then replace the artists with computers! :D

[@radman8321]

That's profound.

[@testadrome]

Great point! If only AI could not clone the voice of non-autotuned artists.... but I'm afraid this will soon happen too

[@aceedmond8053]

The "industry" destroys creativity... they did a good job at dumbing down music culture, now they want to completely steal it... who knows what they'll try to do next.

[@jonneill4914]

My thoughts exactly, Obi .. most of the top songs on Spotify already sound like AI.

[@Paul71H]

I had a similar thought watching that guy react to AI-Drake. I was thinking, "but it sounds like a robot!" Then I realized that the real Drake probably sounds like a robot too, because of all the effects on his voice.

[@gaprise9151]

I've always enjoyed a live band and appreciate true talent. Nothing beats the personal interaction and togetherness people enjoy. Bring back the days of Woodstock

[@autumn702]

Until the day that can also be faked.

[@KeithWilsonUK]

I used to think the same… I thought using loops was cheating, so I programmed my own using samples. I then thought using samples was cheating, so I recorded real drums. I then thought that programming it was cheating, so I learned to play drums for real. I then thought using bought drums was cheating, so I learned to make my own. I then thought using premade skins was cheating, so I killed a goat and skinned it. I then thought that that was cheating too, so I grew my own goat from a baby goat. I also think that is cheating, but I’m not sure where to go from here. I haven’t made any music lately, what with the goat farming and all.

[@ProfParzival]

@@autumn702 ABBA Voyage

[@autumn702]

@@ProfParzival Forgot about that, yeah. Good one.

[@michaelmorse7627]

@@KeithWilsonUK First they came for the communists...

[@foxcontrolmusic]

This is great :) i agree, people don’t care (about music as a business) but people like to make, listen to, be around, a part of music. Whatever music is, vibrations seem to be important humans or at least a nice way to program mood/ cognition.

[@topazbon9196]

Great video Rick, I must say for us songwriters, this is one scary prospect. It’s hard enough now to get any recognition, but if the gatekeepers (record companies, Spotify etc) generate their own music it means they won’t need real musicians/writers. Let’s be honest, what are these gatekeepers really interested in, creativity or profit? We all know that it’s profit. However, there will be a backlash as people want to see real music played and created by real people. Unfortunately, this might be the minority as the average “Joe public” only cares about the end product, and not how it was created. Anyway, this won’t stop me doing what I do, we must keep the faith!

[@miguelwc]

Sadly as Rick and you said, people don't care. We've all been trained to be consumers and that's all people are these days.

[@simonmultiverse6349]

If the AI can imitate well-known artists, the artists should get their act together and make music which is more difficult to imitate. When I say "more difficult to imitate," I mean "more original." If the AI can *NOT* imitate you, that means you're making music which is more interesting.

[@smallworldbigworld-yi3xw]

How many people, including many concerned musicians, think about - and make decisions about - products based on how they're made. Not many. We can't expect a world we don't create ourselves.

[@PeterMayer]

JUST SAY NO TO AI IN MUSIC!!!

[@mrwronggt13]

Topaz, I didn't read other comments before posting so I must say that I agree with all you say here. Up to and you saying "Anyway, this won’t stop me doing what I do, we must keep the faith!" I wish you luck!!

[@umuttanokutan4235]

As a singer I will not use computer for making music any longer . I will grab my guitar and sing my songs without any fear of singing out of tune or playing out of rhythm... No AI can beat this

[@rez77z]

and use like cajon or a thing to do percuission , the computer only for recording

[@fracnis6309]

I know this is all about AI and the music industry, but I cant help but love the colour grading Rick used in this video.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

I can't stand it myself, it's destroying movies more than AI is music...

[@jumpskirt]

The background never made an impression on me 'til this one. I noticed the lights behind the amps, etc. It really is well done.

[@jpc521]

2014 vibes

[@Scripture-Man]

I love Rick but absolutely HATED the color grading. So ugly and distracting.

[@moxenrider]

Haha, love this

[@Soular-Man]

Way back a Doonesbury comic strip had a singer in the studio alone. He asked where are the musicians and the sound man said they have been replace with electronics. The singer said, what about me. The sound man said, we are working on that.

[@mindaugasgied]

My prediction for not so near future. There will be streaming platforms, where you will be able to chose the song and have it generate (or play regenerated) version of it in a style of any band on the platform and with vocals of any singer on the platform.

[@WoodyBReal]

Was thinking something similair- platforms will be created where you can select your singer, guitar player etc and have it spit out a song with your dream band (ie Axl on vocals, EVH on guitar, choose song style slow fast punk melodic etc)

[@rowdyreverb]

Imagine, you just input a melody into an app and an AI builds a song around it

[@MichaelMoore497]

No need for a streaming platform. No need for record companies. Content will be generated 'on-demand' by your laptop or other device or cloud. Each new song will be custom tailored just for you based on your current mood.

[@mooncalf_4534]

Honestly given perfect tech, this'll be the worst thing ever to happen to musicians and the best thing ever to happen to consumers.

[@Paulnap]

That sounds ilogical acording to how music industry works, wich is people listening the same song over and over until it enters your memory. And it wil be always based on old music. Imitation of imitation. The WORST thing that can happen to music. Music needs sofistication to evolve, something that barely happened a couple of times over the past 120 years.

[@generaltso499]

Rick, my friend, I believe this is a very special video the entire world, not just music industry, needs to witness. The extreme joy and/or danger an artificial voice can manipulate to create peace and/or chaos. Feels like a Twilight Zone reality. Best vid yet! Thank you sir!

[@o.g.l.a.ramsfanbigmike5100]

I loved true pure music over my 65 years. I've raised my kids to listen to every little fragment of the structure of a song. Guitars the base the harmonies the beats and now it seems like it's all going to go away from my grandchildren. This has broken 💔 my heart.

[@canyoncarver]

It will be up to you to pass along the love of real music to your grandkids. They will be smart enough to separate one from the other, as they learn to appreciate authenticity through experiencing it with you.

[@franciscojosecastanedojord3457]

Nothing is lost. At least not yet. As is happening everywhere with AI, the ones who have the knowledge and experience are the ones that will excell with AI. To make a fake song today you have to know harmony and music theory and if you are a master at them the you will be on top of the best. I'm 66 and I am a programmer, and I see that with programming too. AI can fake answers just to accomodate you. You will know that made up stuff instantly, a newbie will not.

[@JackMcLeodJr]

Fully understand you man. Best wishes to you and yours.

[@strategery101]

At this point we can only hope AI can make decent music. People sure as hell arent making anything listenable the past 10-20 years

[@ereceeme]

The gravest thing to be lost is our reality to be substituted and very few will notice.

[@absaloj]

This Ai is distorting our sense of what’s real and what’s not. And you can’t even tell what’s different. It’s hella dangerous.

[@lvn5645]

Right, you couldn’t even tell now if there were a serious war or some disaster happening in your own country because everyone is so atomized. Everything on the tv or through phones could be fake right now.

[@alexandersnape8428]

Our view on what's real and what's not has been distorted for a very long time. I.e Vocals for pop songs have been autotuned into the main sound of the genre itself. This is just another step whilst remaining more noticeable and more intense on morality, principles e.t.c. A song is like watching a film, you don't see the production crew. It can be a good thing, it can be a bad. At the end of the day, the majority of listeners will never notice once this gets good enough. If it's here to stay, we need to adapt, hold our own principles of without AI or a mixture of both.

[@tearsintherain6311]

I think is good because truth is we have never known what is real or not and people should realize that more

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

Synthesised instruments have been around for a long time.

[@bloodromance4776]

For me AI vocals of Drake, Cobain etc make me feel uncomfortable, it's make an uncanny valley effect. In video games we are waited for super realistic graphics and faces, but it gives us this uncomfortable uncanny effect. So video games look cartoonish now! Same will be with music, we are humans and we like humans voices and faces, that will never change

[@wildbeanz]

"Kurt Cobain would never use vibrato like that." Spot on, Mr Beato!

[@editingsecrets]

The software was obviously programmed to kick it in after a preset amount of time.

[@careydixon8189]

That was a great catch!

[@heylad]

That was my first thought before Rick even said it.

[@enpappa]

But does it really matter if it sounds good? If you think this is appealing, do you care?

[@editingsecrets]

@@enpappa Rick's point is that it's identifiable as a fake simulation. For someone familiar with Kurt's voice, a vocal technique unlike his singing style... a classically trained technique for a punk garage grunge guy... doesn't sound good because it's so out of place. Aural equivalent to putting him in a tuxedo, pinky finger out as he tells Jeeves to bring more caviah.

[@christianstorm8854]

You are so spot on Rick. As an artist myself I do not use auto tune as I think it is fraud. This A.I. thing has been around for a little longer then the mass think and it’s already been used for “lost music” from dead artists. We are just seeing the beginning of the end of a great many things sadly. I think music is art and art is expressive of the individual with what he or she can do with their bodies naturally as in playing an instrument or vocals or drums. When computers are used those that are not really talented are able to pull a milly vanilly (spelling?) but you can see and those of us with an ear for music can hear it. How many vocalists out there actually suck and are fooling the masses, I bet it’s more then we think. Just look at the latest Chester Bennington and Freddy Mercury music that was just released, both can be put in software to easily see that both vocals were vamped up to the max to be flawless. Smh the human voice is not flawless, it’s the cracks in the voice and little breaths etc…that make the song unique and why we had so many great songs growing up and from my parents era of great music. What is being done today is not music and I will have no part in it and will continue to produce music the way it was meant to be which is from within, not from outside. Anyhow there’s my rant lol outstanding video my friend and again would love to work with you as your skills on an album are spectacular and unmatched because you are trained to hear it all and do not miss a thing. Huge asset in any album.

[@harrisontownsend910]

I need more people like you in your life.

[@kricke243]

You are 100% right. It can make muzak for elevators, but it can't make anything original or art, because art is communicating things that may not be possible to say with words, experiences, emotions etc. (and the artist doesn't have to be super talented, but it have to be "real"). AI can only emulate something that might resemble this if you don't know better, kind of like when you try to fake the sound of another language you don't know any words in, it can be funny (like the Swedish chef) but it's just nonsense if you know the language. It can help with workflow, like a compressor does, or how a reverb "fake" a room. No problem. But the thing is, when we started to "fake" room sound (reverb) with analog things like springs or plates, or even bad digital effects, it created new original sounds.

[@christianstorm8854]

@@kricke243 I agree, I’m not against technology but in the words of King Arthur’s father, I’m against what it can be used for.

[@kirk-b-patrick]

This is craziness! But I'll tell you, I've been playing guitar and writing songs for over 20 years. I do it because I love it. I do it for mental stability and for soul survival. And AI can't take that away from me. Have a good day!

[@jaguarandi2]

They want to take everything away from us and sell the simulacra right back to us. And they will.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Creativity for the love of it and soul survival will survive ... AI generated "music" to the industry is just a product (I'm so tired of the use of "product" and "content"), something to shovel to the masses who don't care and just see it as background noise to get through the day... Keep on creating!!

[@V01DIORE]

@@hurdygurdyguy1You can use AI in creative ways, artifical a Capella and voice (miku-likes) have been around for some time. This just hands everyone the keys to popular vocal instrumentation which previously only elite record companies were holding onto. The underground music scene shall flourish once again!

[@FINELINEVAN]

Rick I’m your age playing in bands since a kid through the years. This crap is gonna tear down anything real anyone owns to anybody anymore. Glad I lived through the years music meant something. We will be checking out if this world next 25 years. Glad to be able to say I really performed wrote and recorded once. We had to work at music and creating ideas. This is a easy way out of creating your own style

[@benjaminrowlett6960]

I remember when music was a voice for the soul and what was impressive was that real people could make real sounds with their own voices.

[@toucan221]

that's exactly what it is all about. thank you friend 😃😃❤❤

[@WildMidwest1]

… and used instruments made of wood, glue, metal and bits of animal flesh.

[@romulus_]

there will be a value placed on that as it'll be increasingly rare to find music that hasn't been touched by a.i.. but I would expect the popular music industry to be adopting these technologies at rapid clip.

[@Wildart2]

I remember when we use to listen to the music of nature like birds singing or whales calling and then someone started mimicking them and then Bongo started beating on a hollowed-out tree trunk and things all went to hell. By the way, that's how bongos got their name.

[@KnewTherapy]

Dont forget all the drugs. The drugs did some great singing

[@michaelakraka8100]

This is a very interesting and crazy development. People who love music and love making music will find inspiration and draw from stuff created by AI but I think the existential importance to them of their own music making and what happens on a physical and psychological level - them actually singing their own song and experiencing the awesomeness of syncing with the vibrations from their guitar for example, or the wonderful feeling of singing in harmony with other people; or the journey they take (personal, artistic, emotional, intellectual etc) when writing a piece of music or a song - is a different music experience than listening to an AI generated song with a "voice" that sounds like Drake's. I think the actual playing of instruments and the actual making of music by real people in real time will always carry more existential weight and value than anything AI created - at least when it comes to the people to whom music is something to not just listen to but something one does and something that brings serious value to their lives. However, when it comes to the commercial, money making machine of the music industry, well that is a completely different thing - and who knows maybe people will start valuing a more personal approach to music making as a result of this. AI is here to stay and people will eventually find a way to make sense of their own music making and listening in the face of the brilliant music that no doubt will be the result of AI generated stuff. I would like to know, though, whether what I'm listening to is AI generated or not.

[@TheBlibo]

Will ai create or just enhance modify or polish existing material

[@michaelakraka8100]

@@TheBlibo As far as I understand it AI is able to do all those but will no doubt be able to do a lot more other stuff not invented or thought of yet. (The examples from the video give you pretty good hints as to its power, and AI is still in its infancy.)

[@reggaerock]

I agree with it never replacing the real feel of creating organic music, but the VAST majority of people will not care. Only us musicians

[@jagged_little_phil]

This is also a big question in the Voice Over / Voice Acting community. New AI software is being released everyday and some of it is very good at creating realistic voice overs. I personally know a few people who are VOs and they've already had their voices cloned and being used on work not related to them. So again, the question is, "do I own my own voice?" A voice is a combination of lots of things: tone, pitch, timbre, inflection, etc So which part - or combination of parts - is copyrightable? What if someone else just so happens to have a voice similar to yours. Who owns it then? A lot of hard questions without any answers.

[@JonasViatte]

And people could train it on several peoples' voices, to make a hybrid artist. Who ownd it then? What if it's trained on 2000 artists?

[@therealnambro]

A license should be required to use AI

[@DoctorWhomThe1st]

@@JonasViatte This is really cool from a creative standpoint. It's like mixing and matching guitar gear from two different guitarists to create something new.

[@dwibelsmagoo4471]

They were killed when they went with actors for animated movies

[@rsutin]

End of the day... we have gone through a cycle of so much processing on vocals that the AI versions are competitive. Time for organic vocals to be considered a positive thing.

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

AI can generate organic vocals too!!

[@fluffyspark798]

Yeah it doesn’t matter anymore if vocals are processed or not because ai is already outcompeting that

[@alexchow9629]

Why do you think AI can't generate organic vocals? We are in year 2 of generative AI models.... Can you guess what year 5 or 10 will look like?

[@rez77z]

@@alexchow9629 it sounds organic but there is no one that actually sings

[@buzzdixon8521]

I think your analysis is spot on. Most people won't care how their entertainment is generated so long as they get entertained. Human creators will need to carve specific niches for themselves or else learn how to literally emulate the success of others.

[@peterarnt]

Rick, everything you've said in this video about the music business eventually ditching the artists and possibly making up their own artists is dead on. Moreover, the same thing will happen to Hollywood. I've seen some video rendering clips lately that are absolutely stunning. When you can control every pixel and every audio waveform, the sky is the limit. We'll be dealing with the ethical questions for decades. Great vid, Sir!

[@jwiegand1022]

Same goes for world leaders and politicians. They will find a way to use this in an evil manner.

[@gabrielraphaelofficial]

Exactly

[@TheChillMelodist]

I highly doubt it tbh. People want to connect with a real artist through their actual live performances, their personality, their career progression, personal life...etc. AI music lacks all of that. Unless they use AI to create virtual avatars with their own unique personalities like what I think Japan has done...it's possible. But ultimately, there will always be greater demand for actual artists with whom fans can connect with

[@tomgoodson345]

@@TheChillMelodist I think your in for a huge disappointment, bro.

[@gabrielraphaelofficial]

@@TheChillMelodist hopefully new young artist arise soon and they will be appreciated live more now that less bother since iphones became popular.

[@jamesdavis7017]

I completely agree with Rick’s analysis from an economics standpoint. Big business has always tried to do more with less labor. And that is really what we are talking about here. The artists are the labor and AI is replacing them from a recording industry standpoint. How this translates into concerts and live shows is yet to be determined, but this is the beginning of the end of the current recording music era.

[@fredsalfa]

Well presented and edited video with some interesting findings on AI there

[@thelolguy007]

This was the truest video you’ve ever done Rick. The quote ‘People Don’t Care’ is the saddest but most true thing about this. It’s the bottom line.

[@roncraig617]

Totally agree with that. It misjudges the market to think there's no place for this. And I'd go even further than Rick - one day we'll have consumers who effectively generate their own 'music' from nothing - at that point the only revenue available to a 'music industry' is along the lines of an Adobe model where consumers buy the tools to create their own content.

[@efrencantu4732]

They will care when AI threatens THEIR jobs

[@theob.3530]

Some people will care and some will not. We'll just have to consciously listen, by always keeping in mind what is what. It's totally amazing that this is taking place though, now I am already wondering what's this path gonna lead us to, or in other words, what will come after AI and after that.

[@thelolguy007]

@@efrencantu4732 it’s too late then

[@thelolguy007]

@@theob.3530 with respect - Wise Up. People have all along they don’t care. They want it cheap and easily accessible- that’s all that matters. They don’t care about f€&k all else

[@mariorossi5059]

The fact that current artists like Drake have been heavily processing their voices through Auto-tune and everything else that makes them sound like a computer has come back to bite them in the ass. It's made it REALLY easy to clone their voices through these AI programs.

[@whatNtarnation90]

to be fair though, the best voice I've heard for AI is Frank Sinatra. Notably the one where he does lil jon - sweat drips down my balls lol... it's insane how good it is

[@jesse76thgames80]

Doesn't matter how "easy" it is. Everything will be copied by ai

[@damondanieli]

@@whatNtarnation90 I was going to bring up this exact example... skeet skeet! AI will cover everything -- and we will hear all sorts of awesome mashups.

[@KellyCeleste]

That’s what I was thinking too. Granted they have done this to older artists too…however they almost feel too clean to me if that makes sense.I like the imperfections of real voices.

[@akashboinpally4389]

@@jesse76thgames80 Well I think the one thing AI can't conquer is in innovation, that is developing unique music which has a person's own distinctive style.

[@bernstock]

Great video Rick. I'm glad to have come from a time when this wasn't possible. Now, the world can never go back!

[@LukeFaulkner]

As a consumer, it'd be fun to pick an artist's voice/style and pick a song that they're going to cover.

[@deadrituals]

I think that in certain genre of music AI voices will definitely become the norm within certain genres and musical contexts - Already today, vocalists are essentially a melodic vehicle for music producers in some niches, so I could definitely see some of them using an AI vocal track they can program as needed. I still think there is always going to be room for real humans making music though, it's just another tool

[@JasonMarshMusic]

To be fair to real musicians, we should be able to have AI audiences that tell us we're totally awesome.

[@miguelwc]

I like that idea.

[@mantisnomo5984]

'Ai audience' is a contradiction in terms. The Ais are all interconnected at the speed of light, so there is really only one Ai. When it comes time for "them" to vote, remember that, as one being, it is only ever entitled to one vote.

[@DOOMJESUS]

HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR AI AUDIENCE ARE WILLING TO SPEND TO HEAR YOU PLAY OR WHATEVER.

[@mrwronggt13]

Truth!!

[@JasonMarshMusic]

@@DOOMJESUS I think they should be able to stream my music so I can make coin.

[@RS911porsche]

I think people are going to start valuing the process more. I'm a visual artist, and I think that a crucial part of what people are going to miss is seeing the stories behind each piece of art and music. A ton of the music that I love is based on how I can relate to the lyrics and imagining what the musician was going through on his own life to create the song. I'm not saying people are not going to enjoy ai music, I just think people are going to value much more human talent, indifferently on which one is better.

[@StbrnSal]

valid valid point. Might end up being a good thing for artists or maybe the future music fans won't be concerned with the process at all

[@PauloRuvalcaba]

Great analysis of the situation! This applies to all creatives fields like writing, art, design, etc… I just hope we don’t loose our humanity over this.

[@bugsycline3798]

Rick... Major Beatles fan here... thank you for sharing this clip of "New"... This really made my year. The world of AI and its legalities of it are on its maiden voyage. It won't be long, till lawyers, guns and money come to protect Paul's ownership of his voice and likeness.

[@derek91362]

Good name for a band. Guns & Money. AI of course.

[@johntowers1213]

On a commercial front that may gain traction and stop people making money by creating new works by famous artists using A.I, but the technology will soon be so ubiquitous that there will be no stopping the sharing of these works..the scale is simply too large to police when effectively any kid in his bedroom can produce's a never ending stream of such A.I works..for no effort and no cost.. Heady times indeed.. how this will change things in the long run is anyone's guess..

[@mantisnomo5984]

@@derek91362 Yeah. Lawyers, guns & money. That could be a song...

[@mantisnomo5984]

@@derek91362 Send Ai, guns & money. The bits have hit the fan!!!

[@codechasr1]

@@mantisnomo5984 ur crazy. Nonsense. 🤣🤣🤣

[@terrykemp1876]

You're so right...people only care about the final product. They don't care who created how, how they did it, or how hard artists work to create music. They just like it or they don't.

[@dubbadan1]

This perhaps will cause some to ponder the nature of creativity and, in some way, humanity.

[@editingsecrets]

If people only want to buy a commodity product, it doesn't matter if a trite, meaningless formula was operated by a person or a machine. If people want an emotional connection to celebrate a fellow human being's original, unreplaceble creative act, it does matter how it was made and by whom. Paint by number kits can give you a halfway decent Thomas Kincaid but not a Van Gogh or Picasso. Adding more megapixels won't generate Monet's choice of daylight and fog. It all comes down to whether you want a product in the background to alleviate boredom or an artwork in the foreground as a worthy focus of your full attention.

[@mic-music-]

I literally submitted a university paper on this yesterday! I wish I'd seen your video I believe that the reason AI Drake is so interesting is because its new. Once the hype dies down people will realise once again that we listen to artists for their human performance and input.

[@stratstrat644]

I'm not sure that everyone listens to music for the human experience/output reasons. I think that, even once the hype passes, people will absolutely continue be seduced by AI. Simply put....if it sounds amazing, people will listen....even if it's made by AI. And based on the AI advancements we've seen this year alone, there's no reason to doubt that in 5 years time....AI will be making killer music that people will be gravitating to.

[@ojay2001]

Absolutely and 100% agreed! People will not pay to see robots dance on a stage, they want human performance..After all it's the skills and devotion we admire, not a canned program of a show that is predictably perfect. My guess is, that people right now are interested in seeing, how "good" AI actually is, but eventually we will see a combination of AI and "natural" content. Just as with Autotune.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

@@ojay2001 first of all, nobody is talking about dancing robots. There is no second of all.

[@markwalker8374]

As someone who doesn't like Drake, I found AI Drake easier on the ears

[@hugogreen13]

@@ojay2001 what about going to see abba?

[@drcambok]

I am a musician, producer and composer in my home studio. I love new technologies and I am looking forward to trying the new AI tools to generate vocal melodies in my compositions. But unfortunately I have not yet found any tool that correctly pronounces the melodies in Spanish. I will start using them as soon as the AI ​​starts to pronounce Spanish correctly

[@richardfeldkamp1707]

Willian Gibson wrote a book in 1996 called Idoru. The protagonist falls in love with an AI holographic pop star. Great read and very prophetic.

[@HeavyMetalNerd]

So he predicted Hatsune Miku?😂

[@nu-metalfan2654]

That sounds like a movie called Simone with Al Pacino.

[@inthefade]

I read that a couple years back and was amazed at how well Gibson predicted a lot of the future.

[@lunadawnlynn]

Also somewhat reminds me of the movie “Her.”

[@RateOfChange]

Much like George Orwell, he wasn't predicting anything, he was warning us all (some of it was speculative, of course, but mostly based on solid facts). AI, just like a lot of the technologies we have available nowadays, was around for a very very long time, only it wan't available for the general public, instead it was kept inside laboratories and only accessible by researchers, military and big companies. For example, news media platforms have been using AI to write articles for more than a decade, record labels too have been using AI's to analyse patterns and trends in music for more than 2 decades now (don't believe me, Google it). Also, side note: This is why music started to become more repetitive and less creative since the late 90's. Anyway, back to the topic, In 2013 I was in my first year at university (studying physics). At that time I joined a research group to study how some materials reacted when exposed to certain extreme conditions. One of the first things the professor taught us was how to use some advanced algorithms to detect and classify variables to track the state of a given system and also predict future states of that system given some pre established conditions. All we had to do was provide some input values and the computer, in a matter of minutes, would return a huge data set with all the calculations and accurate predictions, possible unexpected scenarios, etc, all separated by categories, in a way no human could ever do. We know how to do the calculations. But in modern physics, there's so much data that it would be impossible to gather, organize, calculate and return results without the aid of AIs. Anyway, it worked like "magic" to me. So I asked what kind of algorithm was that and how did it do it, the professor replied with "This is Machine Learning. You teach the task, the computer tries to do it. If it makes a mistake, you tell it that it's wrong, and it'll do it again in different way. You keep reinforcing that, and it'll get to a point where it overcomes humans in pretty much any task. And that algorithm is a very basic one, there are way better ones". I've come across many other machine learning algorithms over the course of my career as a physicist, and was always fascinated by it. I've even joined an AI research group back in 2016. AI, machine learning, data science, etc, aren't really new concepts. These things have been around for decades now. People like Isaac Asimov, for example, wrote about that kind of stuff back in the 50's. Another side note: Can you imagine what kinds of technologies they have that will only be available for us in like 10 years from now? To me, it's both exciting and scary. Also, everything I said earlier has nothing to do with conspiracy theories. This is common sense. New tech is created in labs, mostly funded, for example, by big companies which will obviously use these for profit and then, when it becomes "obsolete" for them, they'll find a way to sell it to the public while investing in more new tech.

[@JBridg3s]

This has been happening in my own field of concept art and illustration, with some prominent artists having their unique styles being used (stolen) for AI prompts. A class action lawsuit has been launched, spearheaded by three artists, to challenge these companies use of copyrighted material in the AI training, but I fear that the tech is moving so fast that its going to outstrip any late action to regulate or mitigate the damage. The potential job losses in creative industries is staggering.

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

Companies will just go the same route as Adobe (I think) did. They'll hire artists to make new paintings, and then train their AI how to paint by using those "for hire" paintings. No direct copyright infringement. They'll legitimately own the "for hire" works. Or they'll come up with a unique style by telling the AI "draw people like Rembrandt did, with backgrounds like Van Gogh did". The result will be unique enough that none of the sources will be able to claim sole copyright on the image which is generated.

[@The032750]

As an aside, think back to the several lawsuits against James Cameron for the environmental/geographic concepts he used in Avatar. Roger Dean in particular lost his case even though it was obvious to most that his paintings and creations were undoubtedly a lifted inspiration source for what Cameron used as geographic features on Pandora.

[@conannanoc8768]

@@garanceadrosehn9691 the AI can do that now (mixing styles). The artist´s lawsuit (that you cannot train the AI by using their work) seems invalid to me. EVERY artist draws inspiration from or has been influenced by other artists that came before. Asking the AI trainer compensation for that is like asking every artist to pay a royalty for having learnt how to paint or draw by studying other people´s work.

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

​@@conannanoc8768 - FWIW, I do agree that the artist's lawsuit is on shaky ground. But even if it has merit, companies who want to avoid paying artists will figure out a legally-safe way to do that.

[@vedransaric]

Don’t you just love this guy. Rick, I wish you the best of luck, health and love for your presence here. Greetings from Croatia! 🫡

[@missreynolds3637]

Well we have been trying to learn this side of the music business because my musician husband loves music, listening to it and creating it. We're learning as cheaply as possible (without buying a program to teach us) how it works. Been at for six or seven years and so far, have had two nice payouts from AI learning from his music. Which this last one was mind blowing. 🤯 We ain't complaining and it seems we're always late to the game sometimes. It pays better than streaming, and people using little pieces in videos, and not making crap off that, but realizing even that is somewhat of an advertisement and hopefully a music supervisor comes across or hears it, and would like to work with him. Waiting on a sync placements, but trying to do that non exclusively, not knowing if that's the best way to go or not, and haven't seen anything from that either? Of course, we're not sure we're doing everything the correct way, and just realized within the last year, he hadn't been collecting all his royalties properly either. Fixed that, still learning, and understanding it takes time too. He just keeps chipping away at it. There's a lot to it all for sure, he says he doesn't mind all the information and meta data stuff he has to input either. He creates as he feels it, till he's happy with it and then puts it out there to be found. Thing is he hasn't even really stressed about it or been gung ho, just taking time to learn about it and create and put it out there. His thing most of all was leaving something of himself behind out there, that would touch somebody in some way, and maybe inspire people too? That was his ultimate goal. I told him he should try to monetize it and it took some pushing on my part I will say.

[@voiceofREASONS]

You are 100% correct. AI is a race to the bottom. Art, music, writing, the human versions will be a novelty. Man I'm glad I was born in 77

[@abcdef-qk6jf]

Young punk...😀

[@KP-my1ud]

and I am glad I was born in 78. Transformers are more than meets the eye!

[@joandavis9070]

Watching and hearing David Gilmour play, right in front of you, is perfection - I want the real human, with the real talent.

[@zazzalicious]

After he's dead you'll be able to go see a hologram performing new material. :)

[@wrongIQ]

too late, the train is gone :)

[@kmb1]

My grandfather was a big-band musician in the 1940's. When the earliest synthesizers started coming out in the 1950's-60's, and especially the 70's, he was in the camp that it was going to put real musicians out of work. He wasn't "wrong" because it started the process of replacing individual players with a guy who can cover a bunch of parts. But other musicians adapted and figured out ways of using the new technology in ways that had never been thought of. And that's always the way. The music industry has always existed with several levels, the big two being: those for mass appeal (a la Pop music), those for people into deeper things that the masses reject. We can argue the semantics of whether the age of Napster ruined the recording industry or whether it leveled the playing field. Instead of giant institution record labels calling all of the shots, now any one with a laptop and some basic programs and equipment can make a good sounding record and get it out there without the support of a major label. Will it sound as good as it could have at Capital Records, Abby Road, or the Power Station, etc?! Probably not, but anyone can make a good sounding record without the need for putting yourself into indentured servitude to the label for 10 albums, then they only release 1, and your band is stuck in legal limbo, no longer to write/perform under your own name. I myself have mixed feelings. I think AI is going to continue to be used to produce lazy music for lazy listeners that can't be bothered to listen to something challenging. But I also think that the next generation of Tim Henson's are going to use it to make music that's never been conceived of. I'm curious to see where it's going to go... provided the AI don't create a race of super robots that destroy us all before any of the rest of this comes to life! That's my diatribe... I'm sticking to it!

[@koolkitties8552]

Well said and I totally agree with you nothing will be real musicians and singers.

[@rupertlay1887]

So I take it that we can kiss goodbye to musicians who actually play an instrument? as AI of itself can generate all the sounds we hear and new ones we have not yet imagined. Are we happy with deleting such a noble and uplifting occupation called the instrumentalist. What about singing? no more vocalists? will we lose our vocal chords, are we heading towards a soundless planet??? why??? why are we doing this???

[@kmb1]

@@rupertlay1887 That's an interesting thought. Are we losing the ability to physically produce the act of singing/playing by encouraging AI to do it for us? I would hope not, BUT the picture that resonates in my mind is the movie WALL-E. Fat, bloated idiots just watching TV while on "golf carts," unable to do anything but be entertained and satiated while the machines do everything else. My hope is the terrible musicians stop and the deeper musicians embrace the new technology and come up with something truly unique. Part of this will happen. Unfortunately, many terrible acts will still succeed and make terrible "music" in the mean time.

[@nikolatomic5287]

great. i always wanted lemmy in my band and dave lombardo. for lombardo, it's already done with drum machine, but i am still waiting for lemmy.

[@sanfords]

Good call. I am so glad you addressed this issue! NOW think about this... When they perfect 3d holographic projection, will we see the same artists playing live gigs in multiple places at the same time? Will audiences care whether they are watching an AI generated live performance show or a real artist? Will artists be needed anymore at all? Will there be any way for an artist to feed himself? What happens when the AI replaces AI artist makers? This applies to just about EVERYTHING. It is insanely scary! Short everything!

[@philipteater3714]

Technology is agnostic. It is how us humans use it that determines whether it enhances our human experience or causes pain. As we have much to develop as a species we often cause pain along the way.

[@cornelisvanderzeyden3275]

JAPAN has been doing this for a while now. computer AI sings the whole song check out vocaloids. NO ARTIST NEEDED!!! they even do live concerts using holographic projections.

[@SuPeRNinJaRed]

You have to admit the fact that Napster was notorious for having mislabeled tracks and now more than 20 years later and the “Black Hole Sun - Nirvana” file I downloaded has become a reality, it’s all come full circle, maybe the joke was on us the entire time and Napster knew all along of what’s to come! Its digital destiny fulfilled!

[@axfn93]

I can finally, truly listen to Bob Marley - Don't Worry Be Happy

[@jacobmiller9885]

Digital Destiny is a great band name (stolen, sorry not sorry).

[@tiefensucht]

I feel we will have apps that don't stream music - they create it on demand. You just tell the AI what genre and artists you like, in what mood you are and it will do an infinite stream of new music.

[@MM-Iconoclast]

Prescient.

[@mortonwilson795]

Yup - makes sense! I just checked out an AI KZbin channel with Harrison singing Oasis, Damon Blur singing Beatles etc. etc. and the comments were basically a stream of 'requests' . . . 'can we have X singing Y' over and over and over. The dozen or so songs they had sounded like shite to me but then again I've been around awhile - still have the original Beatles singles I bought in the 60's (and I've spent the last 40+ years of my life in recording studios). The novelty will wear off for people like me, but the kidz????

[@edwardrivera7413]

I don't know if I see this replacing those moments of listening to your favorite tunes in the car, but I can definitely see something like an infinite generative background jazz or lofi beats being very popular.

[@marcelosebastian333]

Good idea 😂

[@dungareesareforfools]

Sounds like hell.

[@psycofdo]

This video appeared in my feed just now, and i found my comment from 1 year ago, which was an absolute angry runt. This changes are scary. Just a week ago a fellow music teacher showed me some lyrics one of his students wrote. He wanted to put music on it and try to convince his student to sing it. When i first heard this i thought "man, i don't have the time right now to produce and record a demo". He asked me to use an AI. I used Suno, run a few tests and got a version that nailed the concept. Perfect lyrics placement, good melody, even an outro piano solo in the style I asked... we had our demo in less than an hour, after generating and choosing the best song out of a few candidate tracks. Next step we will learn the song, do some arrangements, add a string section, and re-record it with the student that wrote the lyrics. The AI made it very fast and easy for us, but still feels like cheating. At the end of the day, the ability to perform live will be even more important to validate a real musician. So I must agree with Rick: the skill of good songwriting will be that kind of thing that you cultivate on your own, but probably the audience won't care about. What happens after that, I can only imagine. I guess I surrender.

[@chicosuavemusic]

Makes me happy to have grown up when music was original, tactile, and interesting.

[@shawnheath6966]

Real Rick Beato will always be > AI Rick Beato:) Rick packed so much insight into a 13:37 video. Left me wanting more. Maybe I’m a technophobe, but I fear that these “advancements” erode rather than enrich humanity. I suppose consumer behaviors will dictate outcomes. I for one hope there is eventually a tipping point where the masses demand a return to human-created, human-performed music. This channel is a gift. Thank you.

[@wesboundmusic]

I hope so too and I think I see signs of that now. However, as with everything else, society gets more and more fragmented with each passing year. I find that to be a very scary development. I'm aware that there's always been a disparity between the "haves" and "have-nots", admitted. But during my lifetime that gap has never been wider than now. Used to be different. I find it to be disconcerting, because more and more people are going to find themselves cast to the curb and in a sort of "parallel" society all of a sudden and not by choice or "design" of their paths. Again, didn't use to be that way. I might sound like I was digressing, but I don't think I was. I see a recurring "pattern" of fragmentation as a way to keep or make people powerless, so they no longer get to have a "seat at the table" other than generating that tax dollar, be productive, be consumers, keep the economy going. Once they stop doing that, society by and large has no use for them anymore. And these latest developments seem to reenforce this trend. I find it scary and it reduces us all to "digital apes"....

[@ConnorFischettiMusic]

This might just be my favorite video of yours.

[@lunadawnlynn]

I’m so glad I’m old & got to see talent & creativity coming from people & never had to question any of it.

[@Bernz66]

Me too…. I hear ya…..

[@Bernz66]

@@JohnA.Sutton is that the reason why there’s no new artist making it “big”? I beg to differ on your opinion… music exploded from the 1930s all the way up until technology made it easy for non talented people to create…… I would guess that would be up until 2000 or 2010…..

[@lunadawnlynn]

@@Bernz66 Save your sanity, don’t feed the trolls.

[@Bernz66]

@@JohnA.Sutton exploded by quality….. art is art…. It’s up to you as the artist to commercialize it…. The good stuff will always float to the top no matter what companies do…. But to say there wasn’t any great music created in the 20th century is BS…. What I might think is great can be crap to you…. I never say anything sucks…. I just say it doesn’t move me…..

[@NashvilleKat1]

I understand what you’re saying and I can see this happening - to a point. I think of a concert I attended in the early ‘90s. It was in May, the breeze was perfect, and we were out in a huge field surrounded by woods and the smell of cut grass and honeysuckle. As the sun set, the stars came out, and the music began. It was the Moody Blues backed by a full orchestra. Real humans playing for a lot of other humans. You could feel the energy exchange between the performers and the audience. It was a magical night. It’s going to be a while before AI can replicate that kind of experience. At least I hope so.

[@DCToonTime]

But will younger people even see the value of a human experience? So many are caught up in all of the playthings we call tech that I don't know. They eventuallky might prefer an artificial tech driven existance.

[@hugogreen13]

Nice memory. But who will be able to pay when their livelihoods have been destroyed?

[@josephmayfield945]

Less and less people are going out and experiencing life.

[@Hedgehobbit]

The music my kids like is either 40 years old, from video games, or made by KZbinrs. There are no bands that could even go to see.

[@drjhale9801]

Yes and AI has a problem with the actual program of the genetic engineering of any recent voice platforms. It loses the natural rhythm of a human speaking with pausing for a moment to take a breath. Because of this it sounds like those studio recordings and sessions for your local radio station spots and commercials. The audio is clipped and runs through the entire script of random selections. AI is a buzz word just like VR was in the 90s . So sad because it seems to be getting too much attention right now. Our opinion of course . Nothing beats a live performance with actual bands on stage . 🎸

[@upStomp]

Your analysis of the Cobain AI was spot on. It sounded like Kurt after a summer-long sober vocal camp.

[@andrewraphael3800]

Yeh it sounded more like Chris Cornell on an off day

[@withmygoodeyeclosed]

@@andrewraphael3800 Yeah the vibrato is a giveaway, it's very Cornell.

[@vallaindigital]

I thought it sounded like an autotuned Cobain. And that's why people are going to like AI vocals, because most popular crap today already sound AI-ish...

[@andrewraphael3800]

@@vallaindigital That too - the modern pop artists are going to be the easiest to emulate as they are so processed it may as well be a machine.

[@MikeDS49]

Cornell with the timbre of Cobain.

[@WeerdMunkee]

I am a musician of almost 35 years, and after playing with a fantastic drummer for 5 years, almost getting signed (we didn't because he died right as we were in talks with Maverick, Immortal, and Geffen), I've always been trying to find a drummer as good as him, but to no avail (I live in a small town, so my pickins are less than slim). I have been already looking for a computer based AI drum program that can create drums based on my fully recorded music just from tempo alone. It would be a godsend, as I'm not the greatest at drum programming. Come to find out, its not quite there yet, but I am looking forward to when it is!! It's going to change the game for me, and I'm super stoked!! It's the only computer help I will use, as I can play all other instruments myself. It will allow people like me to realize their ideas, and that's fantastic, in my humble opinion!

[@Paul-nl3oy]

How this will affect voice acting will be very interesting as well. I can see companies trying to own an actor's voice so they can do what they want with it.

[@PRIDEATH]

Oh that's already in most contracts on the music side it's likely on the film side as well

[@corail53]

Ah so we are back to the old days where actors were basically property of the studios. I love how while we advance, we also go in a circle.

[@ronrocker7131]

​@@PRIDEATH Is it, really, like that? The likeness of the actors belongs kinda belongs to the actors and last time I checked, there were international laws protecting that. 🤔

[@PRIDEATH]

@@ronrocker7131 a lot of contracts have it where let's say your song blows up the label can expose that to tv shows movies sporting events, it would be really hard to go through the artist and with that, that's the we can use your likeness for anything essentially and it 95% of the time does benefit the artist but if you don't do something they can turn that against you and shelf you. That's a pretty standard 360 deal with them using all their resources to help you while taking all of your revenue, they essentially can use your voice for anything they want if you're signed independent is a completely different story of course.

[@TomsGreenMind]

Isn't this the storyline of Space Jam 2? 😂