Is Using AI In Music Bad? Here’s What 2 Experts Had To Say

AI in music was one of our music trends to watch out for in 2025, and it has been interesting to say the least.

If you haven’t begun to experiment with this tool, you are not alone. Responses in the artist community range from outright rejection of this technological development to using it as inspiration to creating full tracks with the latest tools.

Whichever camp you fit into, it’s clear AI is not going anywhere, but what are the implications of using computer intelligence on a previously human-dominated domain? What are the legal ramifications of its use, and where do we go from here?

Water & Music has unlocked its massive research vault, which includes a deep-dive webinar, “Music AI in the Courts: Legal Battles and Strategic Responses,” featuring two leading attorneys with experience on both sides of the AI debate.

Let’s dig into their findings to set a path forward, but first, some basics. 

What does AI in music look like?

For many, AI in music is not about replacing human creativity but expanding it. Algorithms trained on massive amounts of data can generate, transform, and assist in the creation and refinement of music. Depending on the tool AI can: 

• Compose melodies, harmonies, and chord progressions from scratch
• Generate full instrumental arrangements in seconds
• Emulate certain styles or genres
• Create stems (isolated tracks) from a mixed song
• Suggest lyrics or even generate vocal performances

What are some popular music AI Tools?

1. Suno

One of the fastest-growing AI music generators, Suno can turn a short text prompt into a full song with lyrics, vocals, and production. You might type something like “a soulful R&B track with uplifting lyrics about hope” and get back a polished, ready-to-share song in minutes.

2. Udio

Similar to Suno, Udio focuses on fast, high-quality music creation from simple text prompts. It’s especially popular for social media creators who want background music that matches a specific vibe.

3. AudioShake

Specializes in stem separation—breaking down a finished song into vocals, drums, bass, and other elements. This is a game-changer for remixing, sampling, and post-production.

4. Boomy

A user-friendly platform that lets beginners generate songs in various genres with minimal input, then distribute them to streaming services.

5. Soundverse

Focused on AI-assisted composition, offering structured ways to co-write music with the AI and collaborate with other human creators.

These tools are excellent for artists starting out, as you don’t need to be an engineer to use them. But, as we will see soon, the implications of using them in producing music get a little dicey.

What the webinar revealed about AI and copyright?

The Water & Music webinar featured:

• Scott Sholder – A litigation partner who’s represented human creators in lawsuits against AI companies, including the Authors Guild’s case against OpenAI.
• Elizabeth Moody – An attorney who advises AI companies and helps rights holders develop strategies for integrating AI.

Their conversation boiled down to one key message: AI can be part of your creative process, but you need to know exactly how it affects copyright.

1. Pure AI Creations Aren’t Copyrightable

Under current U.S. law, if a piece of music is generated entirely by AI with no significant human creative input, it can’t be copyrighted. That means if you type a prompt into Suno, take the result exactly as it comes out, and release it, you likely have no exclusive rights over it. Anyone could use, remix, or sell it, and you’d have little legal ground to stop them.

2. Human Contribution Changes the Game

If you use AI as a tool but you significantly shape the result, your work could be eligible for copyright. This means:

• Writing or revising the lyrics yourself
• Editing and arranging the instrumental output
• Adding your own vocals or instrumental performances
• Making creative decisions about structure, tempo, and style

The words to note here are substantial and eligible. There must be the fingerprint of human alteration to the work, but notice there is no guarantee of a copyright. 

3. Documentation is Your Best Friend

Both Sholder and Moody stressed the importance of keeping detailed records of your process:

• What prompts you used
• How you modified the AI output
• What original material you added
• Which tools and versions were involved

This creates a “chain of title,” a record proving your creative role, essential if you ever need to register the work or defend your rights.

4. Training Data Transparency Is a Big Unknown

Many AI music platforms haven’t fully disclosed what music their models were trained on. If it turns out that copyrighted works were used without permission, the platforms could face lawsuits and potentially those who use them. In fact, Suno and Udio are both facing legal action over alleged misuse of copyrighted recordings.

What are the downsides of using AI in music?

If you’re considering experimenting with tools like Suno, here’s what you need to weigh:

A. Ownership Risks

If you create and publish the song from these platforms without considerable changes, you may not legally “own” the song. Even if you believe it’s yours, another artist, or the AI platform, could reuse it without your consent.

B. Distribution Platform Policies

Streaming services are starting to update their policies on AI music. Some may require disclosure if AI was involved; others might remove works that appear to violate copyright or decrease their reach. 

C. Reputation and Authenticity

In some music communities, releasing a fully AI-generated track without transparency could damage your credibility. Fans and collaborators may expect you to be upfront about your process.

D. Potential Liability

While it’s rare, you could be caught in the crossfire of legal disputes between rights holders and AI companies, especially if your AI-generated track contains recognizable elements from copyrighted works.

How to use AI responsibly as a beginner?

If you’re just getting started and want to avoid legal headaches:

1. Use AI as a starting point, not the final product. Treat it like a draft that you refine with your own musicianship.
2. Document everything. Screenshots of prompts, session notes, and saved versions can prove your authorship.
3. Add your own human elements. Lyrics, vocals, live instruments—anything that reflects your unique creative voice.
4. Stay updated on laws and platform policies. The rules are evolving quickly, and what’s allowed today may change in a year.
5. Favor transparent tools. If a platform openly licenses its training data, it’s generally a safer choice.

Don’t Replace Your Genius

AI in music is here to stay.

Creating and perfecting music is at the tip of our fingertips, allowing artists to leverage AI’s training to their benefit. 

While it’s tempting to use these tools to fast-track the music-making process, we advise all artists to use them with caution. AI platforms still need to disclose with more transparency the inner workings of their programs, as copyright laws are defined and implemented with uniformity.

In the meantime, creatives seeking a competitive edge in this market should ensure AI is a supplement to their genius, not a replacement for it.

By combining emotional depth with AI’s efficiency, artists can fashion music that represents their style and flavor that reaches souls for the kingdom and pushes the boundaries of their art at the same time. 

If this article has blessed or inspired you, please consider donating or shopping at our online store. Thank you for your support. God Bless.