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Musicians are at the forefront of AI鈥檚 impact. From new creative tools to intellectual property debates, AI is changing the landscape for musicians, their work, and their legacy. 

Creating music with AI music generators like Suno and AIVA

As a tool to augment creativity, musicians are embracing AI. Many AI tools (like , , and ) are trained on datasets of existing music. The tools use this data to identify patterns and then generate new material, such as melodies, basslines, or chord progressions. The tools can also remove or isolate vocals and instruments, adjust pitch, and even create a song from scratch.

Many musicians are turning to these tools not as replacements for their own creativity, but as an augmentation, using their output for inspiration, transforming it with their own work, or as just another part of the composition process. AI can be, in other words, a tool for collaboration. 

This is an important distinction, according to Julia Rowan, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at , the British music copyright collective. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to distinguish between assistive AI and generative AI,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y assistive AI, we mean using AI as part of the composition process without necessarily substituting out the composer themselves. One use of AI that has existed for years is for mixing and mastering: it鈥檚 a way of augmenting the capacity of the tools that already exist.鈥� 

Rowan argued that using AI in music is often seen in a binary way, when the reality is much more nuanced. 鈥淓ven generative AI tools can be used as a small part of the composition process that is otherwise carried out by a human. Music creators can use AI tools for inspiration and completely transform AI output, for want of a better term, with their creativity. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 quite as binary as not using AI or compromising one鈥檚 artistic integrity.鈥� 

Protecting creative work 

This is one of the biggest concerns about AI for artists in 2025 and beyond: the protection of their work from theft and duplication. 

In many cases, AI music models are trained on music without creators鈥� permission, violating musicians鈥� rights and blocking their remuneration from royalties or copyright. This very issue caused Edward Newton-Rex, the Vice President of Audio at , to resign. 鈥淐ompanies worth billions of dollars are, without permission, training generative AI models on creators鈥� works, which are then being used to create new content that in many cases can compete with the original works,鈥� he stated. 

A recent 鈥� the first of its kind to look at the impact of emerging technology on human creativity 鈥� raised major concerns around this unauthorized use. The solution? Many industry leaders are calling for new legislation to protect musicians鈥� rights and livelihoods in order to ensure the future of the creative industries. 

Dean Ormston, the Chief Executive of Australian music rights management organization Apra Amcos, : 鈥淥ur industry thrives on human creativity. Our songwriters, composers and music publishers are the heart of what makes Australian and New Zealand cultural exports so distinctive. We must ensure strong protections for their work, especially Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, so that AI platforms respect protocols and enhances rather than exploits First Nations culture.鈥�

Other industry voices are calling for more transparency around generative AI. 鈥淲e need regulation that would place an obligation on AI developers to disclose what their models have been trained on in a way that enables enforcement of their rights by music creators,鈥� said Julia Rowan. According to , 93% of PRS members believe creators deserve to be compensated if their music is used for AI-generated content, and 89% feel that AI tools should be transparent about how they generate AI works.

And plenty of musicians have added their voice to the chorus, too. In 2024, advocacy group, calling for the protection of artists against AI tools that mimicked human artists. It asked tech companies not to develop artificial intelligence that undermined or replaced human talent. 鈥淭his assault on human creativity must be stopped,鈥� the letter reads. 鈥淲e must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists鈥� voices and likenesses, violate creators鈥� rights, and destroy the music ecosystem.鈥� It was signed by over 200 musicians, such as Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Stevie Wonder, and REM.

Competing with AI music

In an already-crowded industry and online streaming space, many musicians are concerned about competing with AI music (such as ) for streams, thereby losing out on royalties. 

And it seems that AI-generated music is only set to take up more space: the predicted that exponential growth in generative AI music would account for about 20% of traditional music streaming platforms鈥� revenues by 2028. According to , 74% of surveyed PRS members expressed concerns around AI-generated music competing with human-made compositions. 

Embracing music innovation

Although some musicians are expressing concern over their work and its future, others are embracing AI鈥檚 innovative potential. Holly Herndon, for instance, advocates for musicians to . With her husband and collaborator, Mathew Dryhurst, she created Holly+, a machine learning model trained on her own voice, which can translate any audio file 鈥� an instrument, for instance, or another voice 鈥� into Herndon鈥檚 voice. She saw it as a creative experiment in 鈥渄ecentralizing control鈥� of her public identity. 

Other musicians, too, are experimenting with AI. When in collaboration with Google鈥檚 DeepMind, nine artists 鈥� including Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, Sia, and Charlie Puth 鈥� signed up. Using DeepMind鈥檚 advanced music generation model, , the project, titled Dream Track, was designed to explore how AI could create deeper connections between artists and fans. 

This is how Dream Track worked: US YouTube creators could type an idea into the creation prompt and pick an artist (such as Charli XCX), and an original soundtrack of up to 30 seconds using that artist鈥檚 AI-generated voice would be produced. 

For the collaborating musicians, Dream Track was an exciting way to integrate AI into music production with the participation of the musicians themselves. “I’m extremely excited and inspired by the realm of musical possibilities that come from allowing the human mind to collaborate with the non-human mind,鈥� . He added that he believed YouTube understood how important it was to work with musicians 鈥渢o develop this technology responsibly, ensuring it will accelerate creativity instead of replacing it.鈥�

What AI means for music industry employees in 2025

For those working in the music industry, including producers, composers, songwriters, and sound engineers, AI is causing concern, especially with the emergence of new and worrying statistics. 

Losing income to AI 

AI is causing a huge shift in how music is created, and so it鈥檚 no wonder the industry job landscape is set to change, too. According to a global AI report released by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), music sector workers stand to lose in the next three years while giant tech companies profit. 

The report found that those working in the sector will see their income shrink by more than 20%, while the market for generative AI grows from roughly $3.3bn annually to a predicted $71bn by 2028.

Under current legal frameworks across the world, music creators would be faced with loss on two fronts: firstly, the unlicensed use of their work by AI models without financial compensation and secondly, shrinking opportunities for human-made work as AI music becomes increasingly competitive. The report argued that revenue generated would represent 鈥渁 transfer of economic value from creators to AI companies.鈥� 

New policies to protect creators from this future are vital. CISAC鈥檚 president, former ABBA musician Bj枚rn Ulvaeus, said: 鈥淎I has the power to unlock new and exciting opportunities 鈥� but we have to accept that, if badly regulated, generative AI also has the power to cause great damage to human creators, to their careers and livelihoods.鈥� He argued for legislative reviews across the world to regulate AI use and safeguard human creativity in 2025 and beyond. 

What AI means for music event organizers

For music organizers, AI can be a key tool in reaching the right audience.

Finding the right fans

AI technology can offer an exciting way for music organizers to reach the right fans 鈥� by making it easy for fans to find them. At 91制片厂, our Chief Product Officer, Ted Dworkin, says that AI is set to revolutionize how people discover things to do 鈥斺�� moving from traditional search functions to more dynamic and personalized ways to find events.聽聽

鈥淚magine being able to have a very lightweight and fluid conversation [with AI] that allows you to understand whether this is the best event for you, what the vibe of the event will be like, and any other event information that you want 鈥� and have it all be available just by asking rather than by having to hunt online or figure out keywords and scan QR codes,鈥� Dworkin says. 

When it comes to music, AI is set to help fans find the gigs and musical experiences they鈥檙e looking for in 2025 鈥� whether that鈥檚 a vibe, a genre, or a specific lineup. 

What AI means for music fans in 2025

So what does AI mean for the listeners? For many music fans, AI is a fun way to discover new artists, reconnect with old favorites, and dive deeper into tracks they love.

Diving deeper into favorite tracks

A key moment in any music lover鈥檚 year: viewing their Spotify Wrapped. For the first time in 2024, . Built with Google鈥檚 , fans could listen to an AI-powered podcast hosted by two AI voices that delved deeper into their listening habits, the inspiration behind their favorite tracks, and more. For some listeners, it was a fun new feature to learn more about their most-loved songs. 

But the AI addition to Wrapped didn鈥檛 hit the mark for everyone. For others, as , the podcast felt 鈥渄ull鈥� and 鈥渕ainly proof of how well Google NotebookLM can perform rather than something that enhances user experience in a substantial way.鈥� 

Discovering new music

Spotify has long been known for its user-specific, algorithmically generated playlists, and they form a core part of the listening experience for music fans. Its AI-powered features give listeners a way to experiment with creating the perfect playlist and discovering new bands. 

With 鈥� a feature launched in 2024 鈥� listeners can turn their ideas into bespoke, curated playlists. When a user types a unique prompt into the chat, such as 鈥渁n indie folk playlist to give my brain a big warm hug鈥� or 鈥渁 playlist that makes me feel like the main character鈥�, AI will generate a playlist to match. It鈥檚 a fun way to experiment with new mixes and set the right musical vibe for the day. 

A similar idea underpins the platform鈥檚 : a little like listening to a radio station, but made just for you and your tastes. The AI guide delivers a personalized lineup of music and commentary. 

For some, AI DJ is the perfect way to hear new music and rediscover old favorites. DJ Umami 鈥� a DJ working in radio and in clubs 鈥� thought the feature was impressive. “It plays my likes on shuffle based on when I actually listen to this type of music and tempo and genre and all of those data points,” . “Then they’ll throw in a couple songs that they think that I would like. And I love that.”

So what does AI mean for the music industry in 2025?

When it comes to AI, musicians, industry leaders, and fans are divided: some see it as a fun and innovative way to make new music, broaden musical horizons, and embrace change, while others are concerned about its impact on creators鈥� rights and income. 

Emerging AI music technology has highlighted the need for increased regulation of AI models and increased legal protection for creators in 2025. For many, nuance is key to these discussions, acknowledging that AI can be utilized for creativity while also recognizing that it poses a threat to creatives鈥� livelihoods if left unregulated. In the coming years, it鈥檚 essential that policymakers listen to the voices of musicians to create legislation that protects the future of the industry. 

As Kevin Brannan, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music, : 鈥淭here have been many technological developments since music was first printed on a page, punched onto a pianola roll, recorded on wax cylinder, disc and tape, or digitized on a computer. AI presents perhaps the greatest challenge of all, but each technological advance also generates an opportunity for creators. We need to muster the will and the vision to seize this one.鈥�