Music Labelling: A Missed Opportunity for Musicians to Boost Visibility

In the growing debate about AI-generated music, many musicians are overlooking a powerful tool to boost visibility. Instead of focusing on AI as a threat, what if musicians used a star-rating system to differentiate their human-generated work and stand out in a crowded digital landscape?

AI Music Labeling: A Missed Opportunity for Musicians to Boost Visibility

The conversation around AI-generated music has ignited a divide in the industry, with many traditional musicians pushing back against the rise of AI. This resistance mirrors the Prohibition-era wedge issue, where concerns about alcohol consumption drove a polarizing movement. During Prohibition, legitimate fears about poverty and family breakdown were seized upon by religious groups to push for a ban on alcohol—an effort that failed spectacularly. The lesson from history is clear: allowing complex issues to become divisive only hinders potential solutions.

In today's music world, we see similar patterns in the heated debate around AI music. While the concerns about AI are real, many musicians are missing a valuable opportunity to leverage the debate to their advantage. Rather than treating AI as a threat, traditional artists could be using it as a chance to boost their visibility and reinforce the value of human creativity in a tech-driven landscape.

Waving the 100% Human-Created Flag

One of the biggest missed opportunities for anti-AI musicians is the ability to market themselves as creators of 100% human-generated content. As AI-generated music becomes more prevalent, there will be a growing demand for music that is genuinely created by human hands. Musicians can capitalize on this by waving the flag of "100% human-generated music," which will stand out as a marker of authenticity in a market where AI involvement will soon become the norm.

The Reality Check: Automation in Music

Before musicians become too caught up in the anti-AI sentiment, it’s essential to evaluate their own use of technology. Many artists who vehemently oppose AI-generated music are already using significant levels of automation in their production processes—whether through pre-packaged beats, digital production tools, or automated mixing technologies. These tools, while not as advanced as modern AI, still play a role in automating music creation. Acknowledging the blurred lines between human and machine input can help temper the anti-AI rhetoric and lead to a more nuanced discussion.

The Solution: A Star-Rating Labelling System

Instead of letting AI become a polarizing issue, we should adopt a collaborative approach that fosters transparency. I propose a star-rating system that clearly labels the amount of AI vs. human input in a given track. This rating system could work as follows:

• One Star (100% AI-Generated): For tracks that are entirely AI-created, from lyrics to composition to production.
• Mid-Level (50/50 Collaboration): For music that blends both AI and human input equally. This would be the minimum requirement to qualify for limited copyright protection.
• Top Star (100% Human): For music that is fully human-created, qualifying for full copyright protection.

This star-rating system would allow artists and listeners to make informed decisions about the content they consume. More importantly, it would help bridge the gap between AI creators and traditional artists, encouraging collaboration rather than division.

The Opportunity for Musicians

For musicians who have resisted AI, this system offers a chance to reframe the conversation and showcase their creativity. Instead of simply rallying against AI, musicians can use the star-rating system to promote their human-generated work and differentiate themselves in a crowded, tech-dominated music market. Furthermore, it helps musicians and creators at different levels understand where they fit on the spectrum of creativity, potentially leading to more collaboration. For example, those working primarily with AI might seek out human collaborators to improve their star rating, thereby benefiting traditional musicians who can offer their expertise in vocals, instrumentation, or production.

Collaboration Over Conflict

This debate doesn’t have to be about “us vs. them.” In fact, it could be an opportunity for mutual benefit. AI creators looking to add more human touch to their music could hire traditional musicians, and vice versa, creating an ecosystem where both AI and human creativity thrive. By understanding where automation already plays a role in music, musicians can shift their focus from resistance to collaborate.