Artificial intelligence has seeped into many industries, and one hit songwriter has a strong opinion on its place in the arts.
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Jack Antonoff, the 42-year-old singer-songwriter who has worked with Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar, published a letter Thursday in defense of the “ancient ritual” of making music. In an Instagram post, Antonoff slammed those looking for a way to make songwriting easier or quicker.
“You don’t have to write music anymore, you don’t have to record it, and you don’t have to bring the band out and play it,” Antonoff said.
AI-generated content has made its way into fields from academia to illustration to music. Some companies are developing AI tools to automate tasks in the music industry, such as mastering a track. There are also AI assistants specifically designed to write songs and AI pop stars dropping singles on streaming platforms.
Antonoff is having none of it. He condemned the idea of using tech to optimize the “holy process” of writing, recording, and performing music. He said he spoke on behalf of himself, his band, and “everyone I know,” as he called out “bad actors” who he said would eventually be revealed by the slop they produce.
“So to everyone who is gassed up about the new ways you can fake making art, by all means drive right off that cliff,” Antonoff said in the letter. “We’re genuinely happy to see you go.”
He’s not the first in the music industry to come for AI-generated music. Label Universal Music Group has gone toe-to-toe with AI multiple times to get music made to look and sound like its artists taken down from streaming platforms. Artist Jason Derulo has also said AI music lacks soul.
Antonoff said that the new musicians he knows aren’t interested in AI-generated music. He was blunt in what he thinks about the people creating “slop” that’s hitting streaming services these days.
“Godless whores,” he wrote.
