Title image source: www.digitalmusicnews.com

AI is now becoming integral the the musical creative process, at least according to a recently-conducted survey. The recently-released study reveals that a large percentage of musicians and producers are using AI tools in some part of their workflow, from songwriting and production to promotion and fan engagement.

The research effort, spearheaded by Landr, surveyed over 1,200 music creatives internationally across all experience levels and creative methods. The whopping takeaway: 87% of artists polled have incorporated AI into at least one part of their process.

At its best, AI can help power a new era of self-sufficient artists, the company posits. Artists are beginning to write, produce, and promote their work at a level previously only achievable with a team. According to the study, the ability to fill skill gaps is the most celebrated benefit of AI, and drives the rise of self-sufficient creators who can handle every stage of their release cycle through their tools.

“We’re witnessing the rise of the AI-powered independent artist. Creators can go from an idea in their bedroom to a global release, with the power of a full production and promo team, regardless of the resources available to them,” said Daniel Rowland, VP of Strategy and Partnerships at Landr.

The study showed that the adoption of AI song generators is a key part of this shift. 29% of those surveyed said they already use song generator tools, especially to create parts of songs rather than full tracks.

“My singing is terrible, so voice generation lets me create songs without having to get someone else to sing,” wrote one respondent. “I use AI as if it was a band of session musicians,” explained another.

Beginners are especially likely to be already using a song generator (51%), compared to 25% of so-called professionals. Even among those who haven’t tried song generators, 65% say they are open to trying such tools, particularly for individual song elements.

Nevertheless, creators are cognizant of the challenges brought on by AI in music. The report highlights artists’ concerns with AI, including the potential for “generic” or “soulless” content, and the ethics of large language model (LLM) training.

Overall, the study highlights a widening gap in creative culture. The company believes the next generation of artists will measure success “not by label deals or budgets, but by how effectively they use intelligent tools to expand their reach.”

Survey fieldwork took place from September 30 to October 6, among 1,200 music makers from the company’s global community aged 16 and older. The survey was conducted online and contained over 30 multiple-choice, single-choice, and free-text questions. Respondents had varying levels of music-making experience—including 43% that self-reported as advanced—and employed diverse music production methods across a range of genres.

 

Article Originally Posted on www.digitalmusicnews.com