The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in music creation has sparked conversations throughout the songwriting community. For SongU.com members, the question isn’t just about the technology itself but how AI-enhanced songs fit into SongU.com’s educational and pitching landscape. The following article is based on the insights and opinions regarding AI from our SongU faculty and mentors, comprised of music publishers, song pluggers, and producers, as well as personal experiences and questions from SongU members.* Let’s delve into the heart of the matter: Can you pitch AI-enhanced songs at SongU.com?
The Short Answer
Here’s a brief summary of how we handle AI-enhanced songs specifically and solely for pitching at SongU.com by our members:
If the listing on our site states the pitch guest is not accepting AI-generated material, you may not pitch an AI-generated song to that listing or brief. However, if the listing does not mention AI, you may pitch your AI-enhanced songs, but you must disclose in the note to the pitch guest the exact way you used AI. Here are some examples: “I wrote the lyrics, but the music and instrumentation are fully generated by AI.” Or, “My co-writer and I wrote the lyrics and melody, but AI created the track for this genre.” Or, “This is my demo, but it’s an AI vocal.”
Note that, in general, the sync agents can not accept AI-generated music or vocals because it adds a layer of complexity in clearing the song for licensing. For artist pitches, the publisher or song plugger guests can go either way. Some are willing to hear what you’ve got. They can contact you if they love the song but need a “real” demo. Or, if you’re using AI for vocals only, sometimes those can work. Other publishers are adamantly opposed to AI for copyright and other business reasons.
Because of legal and copyright ambiguities, the best way to use AI is as a tool to enhance your songwriting. Using it to completely generate the melody and track is trickier (again, for copyright reasons). You should at least check that the AI program you’re using states that the vocals used for the music are not recordings or representative files of actual artists and that the music tracks are not taken directly from pre-existing copyrighted material.
The Comprehensive Answer
Here’s a more detailed exploration of what SongU’s understanding and perspective regarding AI-generated songs.
Full disclosure: I asked AI to summarize 65 pages of my personal email correspondence to the SongU faculty (pitch guests, music publishers, song pluggers, sync agents, and producers) and our members to use as source material regarding this subject, and it did a great job. Our faculty and member input gives us a clear, informative, and actionable list of what you need to know about working with AI. (I double-checked the results to ensure the content is correct and accurate.)
The Topics Covered are:
- Industry Resistance to AI-Generated Demos
- Sync Licensing Challenges
- Ethical and Legal Ambiguities
- Diverging Views Among Professionals
- Using AI as a Songwriting Tool
- Transparency is the Key
- Creative Risks With AI
- Future Trajectory for AI
- Actionable Insights for SongU Members
Industry Resistance to AI-Generated Demos
- Many music publishers and sync licensing agents reject AI-generated demos, citing concerns over vocal quality and copyright ambiguities.
- Professionals, such as one of our music publisher mentors, emphasize that AI vocals often lack the polish needed for industry pitching. This risks their own reputations when presenting to A&R teams or sync clients.
Sync Licensing Challenges
- Sync libraries, including major ones like Crucial Music, do not accept AI-generated tracks due to legal complexities and the inability to guarantee originality.
- A major issue for sync pitches is that songs must be “ready to use as is,” making AI involvement a red flag for liability and quality control.
Ethical and Legal Ambiguities
- Legal issues center on whether AI models trained on copyrighted material violate intellectual property laws.
- Courts are still deciding the legality of AI’s training methods and outputs, creating uncertainty about its widespread adoption.
- Organizations like American Performing Rights Organizations such as ASCAP, the British Rights Society, MCPS, and others enforce rules that do not allow 100% AI-generated works and require substantial human input for copyrightability. If a musical work is created with partial AI assistance but includes significant human authorship, it may be eligible for copyright protection and registration.
“If a musical work is created with partial AI assistance but includes significant human authorship, it may be eligible for copyright protection and registration with ASCAP.”
–American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)
Diverging Views Among Industry Professionals
- Some music industry professionals accept AI-enhanced demos for educational or creative experimentation, provided the songwriter discloses AI usage.
- Others reject AI outright, arguing it undermines the creative process and potentially displaces industry professionals, such as demo singers and musicians.
Using AI as a Songwriting Tool
- Songwriters are exploring AI tools like Suno.com and Neutone Morpho to generate tracks, test ideas, or improve worktapes, especially for those with limited production skills or budgets.
- AI is seen as a means to reduce costs and generate and iterate songs quickly, but the results can vary widely in quality. Making them competitive requires significant human intervention—sometimes, as many as 100+ attempts.
Transparency is Key
- There is consensus that songwriters must disclose their use of AI, especially when pitching to music publishers, song pluggers, or sync agents. Transparency can prevent misunderstandings and maintain trust.
- Some members use AI-generated demos as templates, later replacing them with live recordings for pitching.
Creative Risks with AI
- While AI can provide emerging songwriters with access to high-quality production tools, it raises concerns about a flood of mediocre, generic music saturating the market.
- Authenticity and originality will become increasingly valued as listeners and industry professionals push back against overly polished, AI-driven outputs.
Future Trajectory for AI
- Integrating AI into the creative process is a moving target, with industry standards and legal frameworks evolving rapidly.
- We advise songwriters to stay informed about technological advancements, legal rulings, and industry attitudes to make strategic decisions.
Actionable Insights for SongU Members
- Focus on Disclosure: Clearly indicate how AI is used in the songwriting process when pitching.
- Leverage AI Strategically: Use AI as a creative assistant rather than a substitute for human contribution to ensure originality and compliance with copyright laws.
- Adapt to Feedback: If publishers or sync agents request higher-quality outputs, be prepared to replace AI demos with traditional recordings.
- Invest in Knowledge: Stay updated on industry trends, legal developments, and AI tools to navigate this evolving landscape effectively.
I hope this discussion gives you a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges AI brings to songwriting. It underscores the need to be ethical and intentional as we integrate AI into our songwriting endeavors.
*Thanks to the SongU.com faculty, guest, and members who contributed their thoughts, questions, and expertise to source this article. They are: Danny Arena, Martin Bell, Sherrill Blackman, Benn Cutarelli, Helen Darling, Bob Dellaposta, Diona Devincenzi, Shawn Fitzgerald, Debra Foster, Dallas Gregory, Ronald Jenkins, Kevin Kilberry, Randy Klein, Sara Light, Justin Morgan, Queenie Mullinex, Jeffrey Nelson, Michael Nichols, Lisa Palas, Nancy Peacock, Jon Philibert, Marcia Ramirez, John Schofield, Alan Roy Scott, Michele Vice-Maslin, and Debbie Zavitson