Is AI-generated music stealing?

Is AI-generated music stealing?

I recently had a conversation with a fellow musician about AI-generated music. The artist was so locked into his opinion that he wouldn’t even listen when I tried to suggest looking at things from a broader perspective. His answer was always the same:music made with AI is stealing.

At first, I thought, come on, man. But then I realized I’d be just as closed-minded if I didn’t let others have their own opinions. That’s the whole point here – we need to have these conversations, share ideas, support each other, and try to understand where the future might be heading.

But the question still stands:is AI-generated music stealing?

It’s not a simple question

Right now, this topic is being debated everywhere – online, over coffee, and in studios. And I get both sides.

Think about it: you work on a track for two months, shaping every detail, polishing the sound, and finally it’s ready. A month later, someone uses AI to generate something very similar in one minute – and it pops up on a streaming platform. Of course that pisses you off.

But on the other hand, this could happen even without AI. Someone might accidentally create something similar – or deliberately copy your idea.And let’s be honest – isn’t all music, in a way, influenced by something else?

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What about covers, samples and tributes?

Think about cover bands or tribute artists who profit from other people’s songs. Is that stealing?

Or samples – a great drum sample might appear in dozens of tracks. The same funky bassline could show up in many songs.If they’re legally purchased samples, what does “copying” even mean anymore?

How does AI learn – and from what?

AI doesn’t just “listen” to a specific track and steal it. It learns from massive amounts of data. It’s hard to draw a straight line to a single song.

Sure, it feels unfair when you’ve poured in time, emotion, sweat and blood – and someone else clicks a button and gets something similar.

But honestly… AI-generated music often still lacks something. Emotion. Fire. Passion.And when a song is created the real way, you hear it. Especially when it’s mixed well – those small nuances and details bring the real magic.

Who owns a song created by AI?

Let’s use a pizza analogy.

If I order a pizza with everything on it and it’s delivered to my door, that doesn’t make me a chef. I just told someone what I wanted, and they made it. But if I make the pizza myself at home – pick the ingredients, knead the dough, bake it with love – that’s something else entirely.

AI can be like a pizza shop cook: if it’s mass-produced, sometimes there’s a stray hair or two in the mix. But if you create the music yourself from scratch, it has your voice, your sound – and most importantly, your soul.

I’m not for or against AI – I’m just in it

I’m not here to defend or attack AI – and maybe that’s exactly why I’m doing both. It’s still partly unfamiliar to me too, but I want to get the most out of it.I don’t want to be left behind when the world moves forward – especially if others are already making AI music, dropping prices, and flooding the field.

What matters is that we keep asking questions and having conversations.

Creativity won’t disappear – but refusing to look forward can be risky

Back to that earlier conversation: we were talking about AI tools that help with composing. My friend said that’s not creative at all.

And that’s the point where I hope no one ends up –first we fear it, then we deny it, and finally we pretend it doesn’t exist.

But by the time we wake up, it might be too late – not just for music, but for everything.

The world has always changed. And if you’re not willing to change with it –could that be the real danger?

To end on this:

Let’s be afraid together. Let’s reflect together. And let’s support each other.

We’ll figure out this AI thing.A little more conversation, a little less finger pointing.

If you haven’t read the previous post yet, go check it out: Where does AI affect music without us noticing?

PS. Check out my shop page – you'll find T-shirts and samples, straight from the studio.

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Mixing music at the studio – Logic’s up, and fully focused on the sound.