‘Music is considered to be one of the most human traits that exist. What happens then, when it is created by a machine?’

Artificial Intelligence is a type of software that makes use of machine data it receives from devices and sensors and it ‘learns’ from its experience to give solutions or recommendations. But what happens when the same is applied to in one of the most human traits: music?

AI utilizes machine learning models to create new correlations and patterns based on the data it receives. In music, there are millions and millions of songs that currently exist and are available for streaming. AI’s capability to learn and iterate based on its understanding has resulted in some major changes that have impacted the entire music industry.

One drawback to AI in creating music is that it tends to lack originality. Although it should be noted that AI has the capability to churn out a few hits, there is more to AI’s application in music.

From recommending songs and playlists to becoming a pseudo-human composer, we’ve compiled a list of a few ways AI is transforming the music industry.

1. Making music
Modern music has 12 notes as well as 24 major and minor scales. Mix these with varying levels of tempo, harmony and vocals and AI has the potential to create millions of songs.

Because of AI, musicians and amateurs alike, have the ability to create music using easy to use creation, remixing and mastering tools. These enable musicians to create limitless versions of tunes to create and provides a huge playground for creativity. This makes it possible to even create entire albums composed entirely by AI.

One of the most appealing features about these AI tools is that they tend to be inexpensive, sometimes even free of any cost.

2. Recommendations everywhere. Will AI make them more accurate? Or just scary?
Although online retailers will receive the credit for popularizing the recommendation algorithm which suggests products or services related to the items purchased previously. Now, these algorithms have been incorporated in music streaming services as well.

Music streaming services take into consideration several factors like rhythm, genre and user location to suggest similar or new songs to the user. Recommendation AI enables this by searching previously streamed or favorited songs in playlists created by other users that share a similar musical taste; this is known as collaborative filtering.

3. Marketing using AI in music
In 2021, it is expected that there will be more than 3 billion people using social media. This means there will be a lot of data for AI programs to work with.

AI can derive insights based on the type of music a person listens to. With that it can analyze the user’s activity and determine accordingly, the user’s interests and hobbies in other aspects of life like whether the user prefers jogging or surfing. This makes it possible for advertising and cross-promotion platforms to use these insights to reach their key demographic.

Artificial Intelligence can also detect which social media influencers have the best impact when it comes to promoting a particular product.

4. Predicting future hit songs and artists
Artificial Intelligence can also be used by recording companies to determine what the consumer’s ever-changing tastes in music are now and what might be popular in the future.

AI makes use of songs that are present on multiple playlists to decide which songs the user might prefer. The same is true for the opposite, based on the songs that you skip, AI will learn that that particular genre or style of music is not something that is preferred and will hence reflect that in further suggestions.

The implementation of AI in the creation of music is truly remarkable and will cause a significant impact in the near future. But it is important for us to ask ourselves one important question, music is considered to be an inanely human trait and if a program were to be genuinely inspired to compose new music in the future, that creative act, will it be genuinely creative? Or something created by man?

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