Top music producer isn’t buying into AI-generated songs, sees a threat.
Toby Gad, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer known for his work with major artists like Madonna, John Legend, and Beyoncé, has voiced strong concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in music creation. While he acknowledges that AI can assist in enhancing creativity, he firmly believes that using it to write entire songs is detrimental to the industry.
In an interview with BANG Showbiz, Gad outlined his perspective, stating, “There is a type of AI that will make the computer smarter and help us to be more creative. That’s the AI I love. And then there’s the type of AI that tries to outdo us and write songs better than us and create art better than us. I don’t like that AI. I don’t think it’s good for us.” He emphasized the importance of preserving human artistic expression and expressed concern about the implications of AI-driven music.
Gad’s viewpoint is echoed by numerous other artists who have criticized the growing influence of AI in music and other creative fields. One notable voice in the conversation is Thom Yorke of Radiohead, who has previously remarked that AI technology is, at best, producing variations of genuine human art without proper acknowledgment or compensation for the original creators. Yorke stated, “As far as I can tell in music and art and all creative industries, AI is so far only able to ‘create’ variations on genuine human artistic expression, and those are obvious.” He further argued that the economic structure surrounding AI usage is flawed, leaving many artists without the recognition or payment they deserve.
Yorke, alongside a coalition of over 10,500 artists—including Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA, actress Julianne Moore, and Robert Smith of The Cure—has signed a petition warning AI companies about the unlicensed use of creative work, labeling it a “major, unjust threat” to artists’ livelihoods. This growing discontent reflects a larger anxiety within the music industry regarding the impact of technology on creativity and compensation.
As AI continues to evolve, the debate surrounding its role in the music industry is likely to intensify. High-profile creators like Gad and Yorke are calling for a deeper conversation about how to balance technological advancements with the protection of human artistry.
