DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / April 10) — Local artists claim that while AI is reshaping music production and giving independent musicians faster access to tools to compose, produce and promote, it is also raising concerns about originality and fair compensation.
For many independent and local artists, AI is no longer a distant concept, but a growing part of the creative process. From generating melodies and chord progressions to suggesting beats, riffs, and lyrical ideas, AI music tools are becoming more accessible and are having a major impact on how artists develop their sounds.
Marc Luigi M. Lazaro, a 32-year-old musician from Agdao with nearly 20 years of experience in the music scene and roots in Bulacan and Siargao, believes AI is a creative tool rather than a replacement for human artistry.
“Personally, Naga Gamit ko’g AI tools…Okay, Gyudo Kaayo Siya and Ako Siya, I will collect my ideas to create a new song. This will make your work and life easier. ” (Personally, I use AI tools… it’s really, really good and I combine it with my ideas to create new songs. It really makes your work and life easier),” Lazarus said.
He said AI can help speed up the songwriting process by providing musical ideas that artists can fuse with their own ideas. Instead of spending hours browsing songs online, searching for rhymes, and looking for inspiration, people can now use AI to generate material faster and turn it into something original.
Still, Lazarus cautioned that convenience also comes with risks.
“Through the AI music app, artists and non-artists can create AG MAG, recreate MGA music, and generate Shira Maka Ginnansha through revenue from it…” (The downside is that some artists and non-artists rely on AI music apps to create and recreate music and benefit from it through revenue…” Lazaro added.
However, Lazzaro pointed out that while AI has both advantages and disadvantages, its advantages could outweigh the disadvantages if used responsibly and properly regulated in the future. For him, being an artist still means being creative, exploring, and deeply involved in his craft.
He said AI should be used as a guide to ideas, not as a shortcut to instant artistry.
A similar view comes from JL Lydan Ramiro, a 23-year-old musical director and melodic lead guitarist from Cullinan who has spent 10 years in the music scene.
Ramiro sees AI as a tool that allows musicians to develop ideas faster and create prototypes for different genres.
The key for local artists, he said, is learning how to properly manage and use AI music tools. In his view, AI itself is not harmful, it’s up to how people choose to use it.
“From an AI tool perspective, Visionman is like Paramas Mapadari’s idea of creating music.” (My vision for using AI tools is to make the idea of creating music easier), he said.
Although Ramiro has not used AI applications in music production yet, he said he is open to considering them for better purposes in the future – not to fool the audience, but to add creativity and “spice” to the music production process.
Kay Lathery L. Nicholas, a 24-year-old vocalist from Marilog with eight years of experience in the local music industry, also believes that while AI in music may be helpful, it should never replace real artists.
Unlike others who are already using AI tools in their creative process, Nicholas said he doesn’t use AI when singing, composing, or playing an instrument.
But she acknowledged how advanced AI is in the music field today, saying it can now create songs, beats, and vocals that sound authentic.
“Pero medio, terrifying puk kei basin, mawala ang pagka original music. Rahi la jado gihapon nan gikan sa tinuod nga emotion. So, siya as a tool, pero dili unta mpuri, real artist, u balance lan kumbaga. (But it’s also a little scary because the originality of the music can be lost. It’s still different when it comes from real emotion. So it’s fine as a tool, but it shouldn’t replace real artists, it just needs to be balanced),” Nicola said.
She also mentioned how classic songs are being transformed into modern or soulful versions through AI, which she believes is especially beneficial for beginners.
But for Nicholas“What’s important is Gihapon, Antinuodo, Emotions, Inyoung’s own story, music, and what makes you unique (What’s more important is your true feelings and your own story in your music, which is what makes you unique).
She empowers her fellow local artists to continue to embrace their style and never be afraid to be who they are as singers, artists, and women.
These perspectives reflect broader realities in today’s music landscape. AI opens doors for independent artists who may not have access to expensive studios, producers, or large creative teams.
Save time, spark inspiration, and make music production more accessible than ever.
But alongside those opportunities are also serious concerns about originality, ownership, and fair compensation.
As AI-generated songs become easier to produce and distribute, many artists worry that while copies or AI-generated versions will gain more attention and profit online, true human creativity will be ignored.
The challenge is no longer simply a question of whether musicians should accept or reject AI. It’s about how to draw the line between aid and dependence, between innovation and imitation.
As AI continues to evolve, one thing is certain. Technology may change the tools of music, but it cannot replace the human emotions, experiences, and stories that give a song its soul.
After all, for many local artists, AI is not a musician in its own right. It is as powerful and just as dangerous as the hand that uses it. (Gino Bilbao/DOrSU Intern)
