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// What’s Inside

💣🔥 Disruptive Discourse // This week: AI: The New Boogeyman of the Music World. Read the full article below →

🗑️❓ Truth or Trash // Each week, we'll present you with three headlines and one lie. Think you know your industry news? Prove it: read the headlines below, and try to guess which one’s the fake →

🛠️🥾 Riot Guide // This week: Performance Royalties // Do It Yourself Motherf!*&$r Watch it below →

// Disruptive Discourse

AI: The New Boogeyman of the Music World

Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room: AI.

Everyone's shitting bricks over AI, and I know it's all anyone seems to talk about at times. The doomsayers are out in full force predicting the end of human creativity, the decay of the internet, the inevitable decline into apostasy and utter global meltdown. Just very non-hysterical stuff.

On the other hand, you've got "AI artists" and AI music. AI copy and AI writing, AI research and so on and so forth. It's the tool of the future that works ever so perfectly and it's so great and that's why you should pay lots of money for programs that are so helpful.

Whenever I hear the screeching of the howler monkeys (ie., what passes for debate these days) over each new major technological advancement, the phrase “Nino, you worry a too much” always comes to mind:

Between the hysterical hair-pulling and clothes-tearing, and the epic, inevitable fuck ups of technology, try and take a balanced view.

First, let's take a look at what's really happening.

AI and Music: Falling Short

AI isn't the smoking gun people are making it out to be. Case in point: Drake using AI to deepfake Tupac in his diss against Kendrick Lamar.

Drake dropped a track called “Taylor Made Freestyle,” featuring AI-generated vocals of Tupac and Snoop Dogg. The idea was to get under Kendrick's skin, but it backfired spectacularly. Tupac's estate threatened to sue, calling it a blatant abuse of Tupac's legacy. Drake had to pull the track, but not before it spread like wildfire online​​.

This whole fiasco is a perfect example of how emerging tech can be used in a dumb way. AI might have the potential to revolutionize the industry (and not in a good way), but it's also capable of producing cringeworthy, inauthentic garbage when misused. Drake's attempt to leverage AI ended up looking more like a desperate gimmick than a clever move.

The History of Doomsaying

This isn't the first time we've seen this kind of panic. Every technological leap comes with its own set of Chicken Littles. Remember when synthesizers were supposed to kill off real instruments? Or when MTV was supposed to spell the end for radio stars? Spoiler alert: they didn’t.

When synths hit the scene, purists screamed that they’d destroy "real" music. Instead, they gave us entire new genres, from synth-pop to electronic.

What about MTV? Video killed the radio star? Hardly. It just added a new layer to the music experience, giving artists a visual medium to express their art.

The shift from analog to digital recording had many predicting the death of authentic music production. Instead, it democratized music production, making it more accessible and affordable for independent artists.

Platforms like Spotify were feared to kill album sales. Instead, they transformed music consumption, offering artists a new way to reach global audiences and generate revenue through streaming.

Now, have each of these brought about a shitload of unintended consequences? Of course they have. But look at who benefitted.

Early Adopters: Shaping the Future

Here’s the kicker: the early adopters, the ones who embrace new tech, are the ones who shape how it integrates into our culture. AI is no different. It’s a tool, not a replacement. The artists who leverage it creatively will push boundaries and set trends.

Always ahead of the curve, Björk has been experimenting with AI to create unique soundscapes. She’s not replacing her creativity with AI; she’s enhancing it.

Using AI to collaborate on her album "PROTO," Herndon shows how AI can be a creative partner, not a competitor.

Playing With Fire

Let me be clear: there is absolutely danger whenever a new technology comes along. The phrase “unintended consequences” is something that large regulators (at least good ones) are always trying to be on the lookout for, and the amount of these is mind boggling. But just because something is about to change the world forever doesn't mean you get to stop it.

On the flip side, being the first to jump in has its drawbacks. There's a great Bill Burr sketch about this, using hair plugs as an example:

“You wait it out. Let 'em figure it out. Then you fucking go in. Don't be a goddamn hero, you know? Look at hair plugs. Hair plugs don't look half bad now. Saw this guy the other night on TV he's like, ‘Oh god, I wish I did this 10 years ago,’ it's like, no you don't! Ten years ago? When they were stapling ant legs to the top of people's heads? Remember that? Your eyes would water looking at their hairline. Like, ‘Is that...is that sewn in?! I see pine tar.’ They used to put you in like, a headlock, like, ‘Hold still!’ and use like a nail gun. Guys would tap out after a row and a half, ‘Fuck it! I don't give a shit!’ You wish you got hair plugs ten years ago... Do you wish you got polio 60 years ago? What else is on your wish list, sir?”

For the rest of the article, visit here→

// Truth or Trash?

Welcome to Truth or Trash, where the gullible are rewarded with gifs and the sleuths with news. Can you guess which one is the fake?

This Week‘s Headlines:

1) Doja Cat Declares She’s ‘Going Fully Country’ for Next Album: ‘It’s Time to Yeehaw’

2) New Linkin Park singer apologizes for supporting Danny Masterson at his trial

3) Megan Thee Stallion Officially a Swiftie, Totally Down For a Taylor Swift Collab: ‘Would Be So Cute Next to Each Other’

4) Cam’ron & Ma$e Accuse JAY-Z Of Hating On Lil Wayne With Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Pick 

(Answer below)

// Riot Guide

Performance Royalties // ‘Do It Yourself Motherf!*&$r’

Vanessa Silberman’s DIY ethos has made a serious impact across the music industry, from artist development to record production. Her label, A Diamond Heart Production, blends the best of old-school record label values with a fresh, modern approach. Recognized by Alternative Press as one of the 11 LGBTQIA+ and women-owned labels making waves, Vanessa has now teamed up with V13 Media to launch the unapologetic series “Do It Yourself Motherf!*&$r.” Want to find out how to maximize your performance royalties? Check out the video now.

Truth or Trash Answer:

We made up the Doja Cat one (#1). We know going country is in vogue, but there’s nothing to say Doja’s about to go the yeehaw route any time soon. Unless she does in which case we totally called it.

Folks, please, a moment of your time:

We know you’re the coolest person on Planet Earth, but don’t gatekeep this shit. We’re entering a new era of transparency, and in order to destroy the old guard we all need to support the emerging talent around us. To sweeten the deal, we’ve come up with this fun little referral rewards program. Check it out below.