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Songwriting
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Joined: Mar 2024
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I'm new here so forgiveness if this subject has been raised before. With AI platforms such as Suno, Udio and Sonato improving by the hour I ask: Do songwriters have a future? At the moment Udio.com is beta testing and is free to use and I am very impressed with what it can do. Bob Doyle has a very interesting UTube channel and this video my be of interest to BIAB aficionados.
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The thing is..... to an experienced writer, currently the AI programs are still fairly obvious. They are full of the kinds of things beginning writers do.... for example.... predictable rhymes, poor rhyme choices, cliches, a lack of original thought, and certinaly they don't have the insight like a human does to create stories and throw in things that on their surface don't seem to fit, but then absolutely do fit.
I like to use AI as a starting point to get me past that dreaded blank page staring me down. From there, I see if I can make that start make sense.
AI isn't going away, and it's going to be getting better. So, my thought is that I should learn to use it as a tool just like any other tool I use to create and record music.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 598
Journeyman
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Good commentary Herb. I feel the same way.
I like what you said about the dreaded blank page.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Dec 2003
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..........................................
AI isn't going away, and it's going to be getting better. So, my thought is that I should learn to use it as a tool just like any other tool I use to create and record music. Exactly. I remember when Acid loops came out and many musicians were complaining that they would replace them. Loops eventually evolved to the point where many musicians use them today. I think the same will happen with AI. Just remember nail guns did not replace hammers. YMMV
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Did BIAB replace musicians? No! Er, wait, yes it did!
So, to answer your question..."Do songwriters have a future?" I'd say yes, but maybe not in commercial songwriting! "Would you like fries with that burger?"
But seriously, very few of us songwriters had much of a future in commercial songwriting anyway so AI prolly only affects a small group.
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Songwriting
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Songwriters definitely have a future, but one in which they can't make a living from their art.
Before AI, only a few could, and their numbers will drop dramatically.
But that's not the end of the world, it just means that the technical elements of music become less important and ideas, creativity, imagination and fantasy take center stage.
Songwriters are being put more in the role of a producer.
And when the final power goes out, there's always someone who still knows how to play a sing along song on an acoustic around the campfire.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 609
Journeyman
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Journeyman
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It probably depends on what level of quality the listeners require from song lyrics. If lyrics do not matter in modern music well, who knows. A good songwriter will probably outrank AI generated lyrics considering that AI is learning from what is out there today and what is coming out there as new lyrics generated by AI or todays songwriters. And considering the low quality of much lyrics today the new output by AI will probably degenerate further.
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Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
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That part with Rick Beato in the YouTube posted on this thread where he was reciting the lyrics to Across the Universe gave me chills.
SO good, and so relevant.
Yes, that is what great lyrics sound like. Why not try and use that as an example? It's up to you. You can write whatever you want.
I have stated this many times but in terms of commercial music I have read that only a very small handful of aspiring songwriters (about 75 or something in that range) got cuts on Nashville albums each year in the last decade or so and the average take-home pay from songwriter royalties was $90 a year. About 250,000 were trying each year in Nashville alone. Maybe 5 million or so nationwide. Maybe 25 million, who knows. Those aren't great odds.
There is no such thing as commercial songwriting anymore and there hasn't been for a long time. It has nothing to do with AI.
Producers write all of the music if not the artist and there's usually seven or eight people and it's always the same seven or eight people.
On the bright side, for people who want to create their own music, and that's really all there is for Independent artists, the amount of technology to produce your own music is absolutely phenomenal. Mind boggling. Just one example is the Abbey Road collection of plugins. Even the Abbey Road engineers admit that they can't tell the difference between using the Abbey Road plugins and being in Abbey Road. I think that's pretty extraordinary. I think it's pretty extraordinary that Andrew Scheps mixes and masters all of his stuff inside the box with the very same plugins that all of us have access to.
Music today is really what you want to create.
You can literally do whatever you want and put it out there and if people like it they'll listen to it.
This is a great time in history just to focus on producing the greatest music that you possibly can and stop worrying about all of the negative stuff. It will all take care of itself.
Just focus on your tunes, that's what I say.
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It's funny ... sometimes I treat the lyrics as a tone poem and don't care about the words; sometimes the lyrics are vital.
I've long loved the lyrics by Pete Sinfield on the King Crimson songs. Edgy, surreal, powerful, attention-grabbing. The first song that came to mind was "The Letters", to which I listened, before checking his song list that reminded me of so many others. There are a couple of other things that stand out to me about the song ... with hindsight it's quite distinctly jazz, and the dynamic range, in comparison with modern productions is absolutely huge, as it was on many of their songs from that time.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
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Songwriting
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That part with Rick Beato in the YouTube posted on this thread where he was reciting the lyrics to Across the Universe gave me chills.
SO good, and so relevant.
Yes, that is what great lyrics sound like. Why not try and use that as an example? It's up to you. You can write whatever you want.
I have stated this many times but in terms of commercial music I have read that only a very small handful of aspiring songwriters (about 75 or something in that range) got cuts on Nashville albums each year in the last decade or so and the average take-home pay from songwriter royalties was $90 a year. About 250,000 were trying each year in Nashville alone. Maybe 5 million or so nationwide. Maybe 25 million, who knows. Those aren't great odds.
There is no such thing as commercial songwriting anymore and there hasn't been for a long time. It has nothing to do with AI.
Producers write all of the music if not the artist and there's usually seven or eight people and it's always the same seven or eight people.
On the bright side, for people who want to create their own music, and that's really all there is for Independent artists, the amount of technology to produce your own music is absolutely phenomenal. Mind boggling. Just one example is the Abbey Road collection of plugins. Even the Abbey Road engineers admit that they can't tell the difference between using the Abbey Road plugins and being in Abbey Road. I think that's pretty extraordinary. I think it's pretty extraordinary that Andrew Scheps mixes and masters all of his stuff inside the box with the very same plugins that all of us have access to.
Music today is really what you want to create.
You can literally do whatever you want and put it out there and if people like it they'll listen to it.
This is a great time in history just to focus on producing the greatest music that you possibly can and stop worrying about all of the negative stuff. It will all take care of itself.
Just focus on your tunes, that's what I say. 👍👍👍 J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Songwriting
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[...]
On the bright side, for people who want to create their own music, and that's really all there is for Independent artists, the amount of technology to produce your own music is absolutely phenomenal. Mind boggling.
[...]
Music today is really what you want to create.
You can literally do whatever you want and put it out there and if people like it they'll listen to it.
This is a great time in history just to focus on producing the greatest music that you possibly can and stop worrying about all of the negative stuff. It will all take care of itself.
Just focus on your tunes, that's what I say. That's the first time that I think that this forum needs a 'Like' button!
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Songwriting
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I know it is pretty old school but we can still say we like what David has to say. Hell, we can even say we like David.Here is an example.
Hey David, I like what you had to say. Oh, an by the way I still like you!
Contrary to to popular belief, English language still works...lol Go ahead, write a complete sentence.
Cheers,
Billy
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Songwriting
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Joined: May 2024
Posts: 41
Enthusiast
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Nashville Staff writers are making money . I guess they'll adjust on the AI that everyone is talking about .
I love Rick Beato , but he reminds me some times of grandpa and all new music sucks...at least on some vids he makes .
Comparing some new tune ( Which I loved ) To John Lennon , apples and oranges. 1965 and now 2024.
I want to buy his stuff on theory . He's real good on everything with music . I'm sure legitimate publishers are getting a ear full on AI ,
Last edited by Elvis Nash; 05/17/24 07:09 AM.
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