Key highlights
- Machine Music (Focal Press, 2026) is the first book by a working music executive to cover AI’s full impact — from production and streaming to live performance and litigation.
- Author Drew Thurlow served as SVP of A&R at Sony Music and held senior roles at Pandora and Warner Music before becoming an adjunct professor at Berklee College of Music.
- The book spans 10 chapters and 196 pages, covering generative AI tools, copyright lawsuits, UGC platforms, licensing models, and a forward-looking framework for artists and producers.
A former Sony exec puts the whole picture on paper
Most writing about AI in music comes from two directions: tech journalists who don’t know the industry, or artists who know the industry but not the technology. Drew Thurlow is something rarer. He spent years as SVP of A&R at Sony Music, held leadership roles at both Pandora and Warner Music, plays as a professional musician, and now teaches music strategy, innovation, and AI at Berklee College of Music.
That combination is exactly what Machine Music needed. Published by Focal Press (Routledge/Taylor & Francis) in 2026, the book runs 196 pages across 10 chapters and covers generative AI tools, synthetic voices, AI-assisted marketing, licensing models, live performance technology, and the copyright litigation reshaping the business right now, all in 1 place.
Ten chapters, one complete picture of AI in music
The table of contents reads like the syllabus the industry has been waiting for. Chapter 1 sets the historical frame (“Music’s Never-Ending Revolution”). Chapter 2 covers the birth of AI. Chapter 3 maps digital disruption. Then the book gets practical: Chapter 4 on AI for musical creators, Chapter 5 on how UGC platforms are reshaping the artist-fan relationship, Chapter 6 on the business of music in an AI era.
Chapter 7 is where the lawsuits live. “Litigation and Legislation: The Battle Over AI, Copyright, and Legal Precedent” arrives at a moment when the Suno copyright lawsuit brought by indie artists is still working through the courts and major labels and AI music negotiations remain unresolved. Chapter 9 — “AI Music in the Live Arena” — covers ground most coverage skips entirely. The book closes with “Envisioning a Musical Tomorrow.”
The takeaway: This is a 10-chapter arc that moves from history to tools to business to law to live performance to futures — the full stack, in one volume.
Insider lens meets honest uncertainty
What separates this from generic AI commentary is Thurlow’s willingness to sit inside the tension. His Substack carries a post titled “I’m Optimistic the New AI Deals Will Be Good for Artists. But What If I’m Wrong?” — published before the book came out. That question runs through the whole project.
The publisher’s description promises “a clear-eyed vision for a more creative and equitable future.” Thurlow doesn’t pretend the path is smooth. The book lands while streaming platforms and AI music rules are still being written, Sony is a holdout on Suno settlement talks, and indie artists have been cut out of every major label AI licensing deal negotiated so far. A framework that acknowledges that reality is worth more than one that doesn’t.
The Taylor & Francis eBook edition is available for institutional purchase alongside the print edition. ISBN: 978-1-032-81355-4.
What producers and artists get from reading it
Chapter 4 (AI for Musical Creators) and Chapter 5 (UGC and AI’s Reshaping of the Artist-Fan Relationship) are the most directly practical for working producers. Chapter 9 on live performance adds a dimension almost no other resource covers. Each chapter combines history, analysis, and forward-looking prediction — the structure means you can read straight through or go straight to the section most relevant to your situation.
Thurlow writes for Billboard and advises the Mindset Music Tech Investment Fund. He holds a master’s in Technology and Leadership from Brown University. This is his first book, and it shows the kind of care that goes into a first book: dense where it needs to be, accessible where it counts. Find it at machine-music.ai or via Routledge.
Frequently asked questions
What is Machine Music by Drew Thurlow about?
Machine Music (Focal Press, 2026) examines how AI is reshaping every part of the music industry — from generative tools and synthetic voices to copyright litigation, streaming platform policies, and live performance technology. The book covers 10 chapters across 196 pages and offers practical frameworks for artists, producers, and music professionals navigating the AI era.
Who is Drew Thurlow?
Drew Thurlow is a former professional musician and music executive. He served as Senior Vice President of A&R at Sony Music and held senior roles at Pandora and Warner Music. He is currently an adjunct professor of music strategy, innovation, and AI at Berklee College of Music, and an advisor to the Mindset Music Tech Investment Fund.
Where can I buy Machine Music?
The print edition (ISBN 978-1-032-81355-4) is available via machine-music.ai, Routledge and Amazon among others. The eBook edition is available through Taylor & Francis for individual and institutional purchase.
What chapters are in Machine Music?
The 10 chapters cover: music history and disruption, the birth of AI, digital disruption, AI for creators, UGC and the artist-fan relationship, the business of music, copyright litigation and legislation, industry reactions and ethics, AI in live performance, and a forward-looking vision for music’s future.”
