AI Music Creation: Tools, Ethics, and Creative Possibilities

Introduction

In recent years, AI-generated music has emerged as a groundbreaking tool, offering new ways to compose and produce songs. This technology allows creators to quickly generate new musical ideas, iterate on existing concepts, and explore creative possibilities that were previously out of reach.

As we delve into the world of AI-generated music, it's important to understand both its potential and the role it can play in enhancing the creative process. However, with this innovation also comes the need to consider the ethical implications of AI in music creation.

Throughout this journey, we will explore not only how AI can be a powerful ally for musicians and producers—unlocking new levels of creativity and innovation—but also the ethical considerations that come with this technological advancement. By examining both the opportunities and challenges, we can better understand how AI fits into the ever-evolving landscape of music production and artistry.

The Idea Behind a Song: Why We Create Music

Every song starts with an idea. Whether it’s an emotion to express, a story to tell, or a piece of music needed for a larger creative project, music exists because we need it to serve a purpose. Some songs are written to convey personal feelings, while others are crafted for film, TV, or other media, helping to set a tone, enhance a story, or establish a brand identity.

For my challenge project, I needed a theme song for a short-form TV series concept called The Porch Philosophizers. This series features two old Southern men—Cletus Jimmy Jefferson and Buford Bubba Washington—engaging in humorous and insightful conversations about life from their front porch. Their personalities were rich, their dialogue was engaging, but something was missing: music that captured their essence.

Using AI to Develop a Theme Song

To create a song that truly fit the world of The Porch Philosophizers, I took inspiration from the characters themselves. Since Cletus and Buford are deeply rooted in Southern culture, I knew the music needed to reflect that—something warm, traditional, and inviting, like the theme songs of classic sitcoms.

I started by working with ChatGPT to develop a song concept and lyrics. By feeding it detailed descriptions of the characters—where they lived, their personalities, and how they interacted—I was able to refine a prompt that described the type of song I envisioned. I wanted something short and memorable, in a traditional TV theme format with a structure like:

• Intro
• Verse
• Chorus
• Verse
• Chorus
• Outro

Once I had the basic lyrics and song structure, I used AI-generated music tools to start exploring melodies and instrumentation that would match the feel of the show. The goal was to capture the soul of the characters in the music, reinforcing their humor, charm, and Southern wisdom.

Here's the final prompt that was used to output the final song

PROMPT

Create a Soul, up beat blues-inspired TV theme song with a groovy Southern rhythm. The track should have a soulful bassline, blues harmonica riffs, and a slide guitar melody. Add funky drum breaks with a laid-back but bouncy feel. Think the Sanford & Son TV theme meets B.B. King with a touch of James Brown. The vocals should have a weathered raspy R& B blues male singer delivering playful, storytelling lyrics. The chorus should be catchy and repeatable, with a call-and-response style for humor. Background vocals can include ‘yeahs’ and ‘mmhmms’ for a Southern gospel touch. Keep the tempo upbeat but relaxed, perfect for an opening credits sequence of a TV series Ends with a harmonica riff and a deep bass thump, then a fade-out,? blues, r&b, soulfunk.

From Concept to Creation

This approach highlights how AI can serve as a creative assistant in the songwriting process. It doesn’t replace the need for human inspiration and direction, but it can help refine ideas, generate lyrics, suggest melodies, and bring a concept to life faster.

Every song begins with a need—whether it's personal expression, storytelling, or creating a musical theme for a project. AI is simply another tool in the creative process, helping to bridge the gap between inspiration and execution.

The Creative Process with AI Tools

AI has introduced a new way of thinking about music creation. Instead of replacing human creativity, these tools act as collaborators—helping musicians, producers, and even non-musicians bring their ideas to life faster than ever before.

AI tools like Udio and Suno allow users to generate full compositions from simple text prompts, chord progressions, or even short audio clips. This can serve as a starting point for further refinement, much like how a songwriter might sketch out a rough draft before fine-tuning the lyrics and instrumentation.

One of the key advantages of AI tools is the ability to iterate quickly. If a generated track isn’t quite right, users can tweak parameters—adjusting the tempo, key, instrumentation, or mood—to guide the AI toward a more desirable output.

At its best, AI expands creative possibilities rather than limiting them. It can suggest unexpected harmonies, create intricate instrumental layers, or help artists step outside their comfort zones by generating music in styles they wouldn’t normally explore.

Understanding Stems and Multitrack Recording

How AI Tools Handle Stems and Exports

When using AI music generators like Udio or Suno, you typically have two export options:

• Composite Mix – A fully mixed audio file with no individual control over instruments.
• Stem Export – A set of grouped audio files (e.g., drums, bass, vocals, instruments), giving limited flexibility for remixing.

Traditional Multitrack Recording: Full Control

In a traditional recording session, every individual instrument is recorded on its own track. For example:

• Drums – Kick, snare, hi-hat, toms, and cymbals each have separate tracks.
• Vocals – Lead vocals and background harmonies have dedicated tracks.

This allows an audio engineer to precisely shape the sound, which is not yet fully possible with AI-generated stems.

Engineering and Mixing: The Artistry Behind the Sound

Once you’ve exported AI-generated music, the real work of shaping the final sound begins.

Mixing AI-Generated Stems

Since AI tools typically provide limited stem exports, engineers must work within these constraints to create clarity, balance, and depth in the mix.

Enhancing AI Music with Additional Production

• Layering Live or Sampled Instruments to add richness.
• Replacing or Enhancing Vocals to improve realism.
• Adding Percussion & Texture to make the track more organic.

Ethical Considerations and the Role of AI in Music

Ownership, Copyright, and Fair Use

• Who owns AI-generated music? Some platforms retain partial rights, while others grant full ownership.
• Is AI music truly original? AI models are trained on massive datasets, raising concerns about unintentional similarities.

Transparency and Ethical AI Use

• Disclosing AI’s role in the creative process.
• Ensuring AI-generated music doesn’t devalue human artists.

AI should be a tool that empowers musicians, not one that replaces them.

Conclusion: The Future of AI and Music Creation

AI is reshaping music—not as a replacement for human creativity, but as a tool that enhances and expands creative possibilities. Sure, there will be one-button-push, low-quality noise, but I’m hopeful that most of it will fade away. We’ve been here before with previous music technology breakthroughs like sampling, sequencing, drum machines, digital audio workstations, and even AutoTune. Just as with those tools, I believe human creativity will find innovative ways to use AI, turning it into just another tool in the creative toolbox. Cher 3.0, anyone? ??

The most compelling results will come from artists who embrace AI as a partner—using its speed and efficiency while applying human judgment, emotion, and artistry.

Ultimately, the best music comes from those who push boundaries, experiment fearlessly, and embrace new tools while staying true to their artistic vision. AI is just another instrument in the toolkit—one that, when used wisely, can help create music that is fresh, innovative, and deeply human. If you haven't jumped, check it out, kick the tires and take it for a spin. You might just get inspired and be the one who creates something truly new.

Onward...Forward!

Call to Action

?? What’s your take on AI in music? Do you see it as a creative partner or a potential threat to human artistry?

Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out if you’re experimenting with AI tools in your own music projects. Let's spark a conversation about the future of music and creativity!

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