Directing Creativity in the Age of AI; The Cottage Industry Behind AI Music
#267 | Your Weekly Dose of AI Music News
Directing Creativity in the Age of AI
Something subtle is changing. The modern creative is beginning to look less like a technician and more like a director.
🤖 Extr(AI)mportant
The Cottage Industry Behind AI Music
Beyond the fact that top producers are increasingly open about using generative tools in their studio workflows, a growing wave of “cottage industry” businesses is forming around the space — tools and services designed specifically to support AI music creation.
The Rise of the Multilingual Music Economy
Today’s biggest hits come in more languages than ever. Sam Duboff, Global Head of Spotify for Artists, Marketing & Policy, takes a closer look at the data.
A Short History of AI-Generated Music: From ‘Fake Drake’ to Blockbuster Legal Settlements
In three years, generative AI music has become the industry’s most pressing concern. Here are all the major developments so far.
YouTube Music CEO Echoes the Company Line on Embracing AI—But Draws the Line at Likeness Rip-Offs and ‘Slop’
YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, released his first newsletter of the year, reaffirming YouTube CEO Neal Mohan’s earlier remarks on generative AI. In addition to highlighting the company’s emphasis on being “a primary driver of fan loyalty,” he doubled down on YouTube building “guardrails for likeness detection,” as well as fighting the spread of so-called AI slop.
Music and AI: ‘There is a really big opportunity here – if we get it right’
Sony Music’s president, global digital business and US sales, Dennis Kooker, took the lead in addressing the state of play for the music industry’s AI plans. “First and foremost, I think there is a really big opportunity here, if we get it right. And the ‘if we get it right’ part is obviously super, super-critical,” he said, pointing to the 11 consecutive years of growth shown in the IFPI’s report.
AI Music and Video Are Converging — Here’s Why That Matters for Creators
Creators are now treating AI music as raw material for something bigger: a Reel, a Short, a promo clip, a visual experience. The pipeline has expanded. And the gap between “I made this with AI” and “I made this into something people actually watch and share” is where the real skill is developing.
Why the music industry needs to learn to live with AI
Music is emerging as a case study of where AI is actually delivering (and getting better by the day). This means that everyone in the music industry needs to start thinking about how to co-exist with AI, whether they like it or not.
⚙️ Tools
I Tried Making a Full Song Using Only AI Tools – Here’s What Happened
Spotify’s new Taste Profile lets you tailor your algorithm and review listening data
🎼 Innovation
Spotify Wear OS update brings a new look and gesture controls
Yamaha Music Innovations to Unveil ‘Yamaha Creator Pass’ at SXSW
📧 If you have a question, or would like to sponsor an issue, please email Jeff.

