No lies were detected.
Contrary to all expectations, the biggest threat to country music (or music in general, for that matter) today isn't lazy lyrics or uninspired production, or the constant need to shoehorn 808 beats and electronic percussion into nearly every song that hits country radio's Top 40. These are still very annoying, but at least they were created by humans. Today, the fight against AI in music is not just a concern, but a real threat.
At this point, we've already seen AI-generated songs top the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart for November. whiskey riff reported A song titled “Walk My Walk” by an artist called Breaking Rust seemed to be fooling the masses. Everything from the artist to the music video to the song itself is a complete work of AI.
But if you dig into the weeds surrounding Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart, you'll quickly find that this chart isn't just extremely outdated due to the simple fact that not as many people consume music via digital downloads (streaming on services like Spotify and Apple Music still tops the list). What's more, it's very easy to operate via Breaking Rust's team members or bots, just buy songs over and over again using different methods.
That being said, it appears that the developing story surrounding Breaking Rust and AI music is just the tip of the iceberg, and that iceberg is not only large, but deeply concerning to authentic advocates (and I can't believe I even have to say this right now). human) music like we are here whiskey riff.
And now, new stories about AI artists are starting to emerge out of nowhere, causing concern for some of the most well-known artists in the genre today. We've already seen things like charlie crockett, brooks & dunzach bryan jason aldean A growing number of people are also expressing concern about the imminent threat of AI infiltrating the arts.
recently, riley greenrecently became the first artist since Taylor Swift to have back-to-back No. 1 solo hits on Billboard's Country Airplay chart (“Worst Way,” “Don't Mind If I Do”), weighing in on the debate over the place (or lack thereof) of AI in music.
At the CMA Awards ceremony in November, country of signboards Green was asked about the aforementioned Breaking Rust, which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Digital Country Songs chart.
“I don't know much about that. I hope that doesn't happen.”
Well, Riley…I hate it when bubbles burst. Although he wasn't fully aware of the issue at hand, he shared that half of the reason listeners identify with the genre is the storytelling and the ability to connect with other people's similar experiences.
“But I'll tell you this: I don't think there's an AI situation where you can put real emotion into something. You can say this and that, but I think storytelling is what makes country music. So I think only humans who have experienced those emotions and felt them can really do that.”
One of the red carpet interviewers pointed out that Green's 2019 hit song “I Wish Grampus Never Die” has so many emotions in it, to which Green responded that it would be very difficult (in his opinion) for an AI to recreate a song that evokes so many emotions.
“Yes, let's have the calculator write that song!”
When appearing on a program in early December, like a farmer On the podcast, host Pat Spinosa will ask the “Worst Way” singer again about his thoughts on AI.
The pragmatic Mr. Green would point out that it definitely has useful applications, especially from a data and analytics perspective, before dismissing the notion that it's possible for songwriting or art in general.
“I feel like there's probably a world where it's really useful for AI. Maybe writing songs isn't it.”
The Alabama native touched on the inherent laziness that comes with using AI-generated art, comparing using AI-generation and tools to write a song to cheating on a college test. Finally, he made one of the most poignant and ultimately correct observations about its use in songwriting, calling it “the most commercial thing I've ever seen.”
“This is the laziest thing I've ever heard. It's the most 'school me' version of songwriting ever. I was looking through SparkNotes for a test. I don't understand anything other than the fact that this is the most commercial thing I've ever seen. I don't think there's a world where an AI would write something that makes you feel real emotion.”
And it's safe to say that Green really hit the mark here. Beyond the obvious issues surrounding AI “art”, namely the simple fact that all AI generators are stealing from artists by drawing from previously created work in any medium, as the use of AI becomes more prominent, it will only be used to create the cheapest, most superficial level songs imaginable. Of course, that doesn't even mention the fact that executives won't have to pay songwriters to write songs if they can pump out hundreds of radio-ready songs (with possible tweaks here and there) at zero cost.
Overall, AI in music is a very real threat, and it doesn't just impact one aspect of the industry. At the very least, it's great to see Green continue to use his platform to fight its use, especially when we're seeing more AI “artists” appear on Spotify every week.
Watch here:
@likeafarmerpodcast Riley Greene shares her thoughts on AI music #fyp ♬ Original sound – Like a Farmer
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