Everything you need to know:
✓ Guy Chambers fears AI could replace human songwriters, calling its acceleration “terrifying.”
✓ Chambers suggests future albums may need “all-human record” labels to differentiate from AI-generated music.
✓ The songwriter urges young musicians to be flexible and develop multiple skills to succeed.
“All-human records” vs. AI-generated tracks
In a recent talk at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in Nottingham, Guy Chambers, the renowned songwriter behind numerous hits for Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, voiced his grave concerns about the increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry. Chambers warned that the rapid advancement of AI technology could potentially replace human songwriters, a prospect he finds “terrifying.”
As AI continues to make strides in the creative realm, Chambers suggests that we may reach a point where albums will require a special label indicating that they are “all-human records.” This stark prediction highlights the growing concern among artists and industry professionals about the blurring lines between human creativity and machine-generated content.
AI might make young musicians lazy.
Chambers elaborated on his fears, stating:
“From what I’ve seen of AI, the acceleration is pretty terrifying, in terms of what it can do and how it could replace songwriters.”
He painted a vivid picture of how AI could be used to generate songs based on specific parameters, such as tempo, genre, and even lyrical themes.
“Any person could put into an AI programme something like ‘I want a song 100 BPM that sounds like a cross between ABBA and Arctic Monkeys’. And some music will be created and it will be pretty good.”
Guy Chambers
The songwriter’s concerns extend beyond the creation of music itself. He also worries that AI could be used to generate lyrics, further diminishing the role of human songwriters. “Or someone might say: ‘Can you also write me a lyric that’s a funny take on fast food’ and a pretty good lyric will come out. This is just going to get better and better as AI gets more and more intelligent,” Chambers warned.
While acknowledging that AI could bring some benefits and unforeseen opportunities to the music industry, Chambers emphasized the potential dangers and the risk of young musicians becoming complacent.
“We now use so much software that’s probably being helped by AI, it would be quite hard to do a completely organic analogue record these days. Of course, there are also benefits to this, and I think there will be incredible tie-ins with AI that we can’t even imagine now. But also I think there are lots of potential dangers and I’m worried that young musicians might get lazy, and in this business you’re not going to get anywhere if you’re lazy,”
Guy Chambers
The RIAA launches a “human artistry campaign” to counter AI
Chambers’ comments come amidst a growing debate about the role of AI in the creative industries. Platforms like YouTube are already experimenting with AI systems that allow users to generate unique songs based on their input, while some artists have willingly lent their voices to these projects. However, many in the music community are pushing back against the unchecked use of AI, arguing that it could undermine the value of human artistry and creativity.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has launched a “human artistry campaign” to address these concerns, emphasizing the importance of the lived experiences and unique perspectives that only human artists can bring to their work.
Similarly, the Musicians’ Union in the UK is urging its members to be vigilant about the use of their music in training AI models without their explicit consent.
As the debate surrounding AI in the music industry continues to unfold, Chambers’ advice to young musicians remains clear: be flexible and develop a diverse skill set.
“Have as many skills as possible because you’re going to need them. That’s my main message. My other advice to young musicians is to have as many strings to their bow as possible. They need to have very personal skills, like charm and hustle,”
Guy Chambers
The future of music in the age of AI is uncertain, but one thing remains clear: the human touch, with all its imperfections and unique perspectives, is what gives music its soul. As the industry navigates this uncharted territory, it will be crucial to find a balance between embracing the potential benefits of AI and preserving the irreplaceable value of human creativity. Only time will tell how this delicate balance will be struck, but one thing is for sure: the conversation about AI’s role in music is just beginning.
