Music 4.0: The New Revolution with Generative AI
Let’s explore the groundbreaking impact of AI on Hollywood and Bollywood music production. Learn how generative AI is transforming music creation, making it faster and more cost-effective. From a music enthusiast’s experiments with AI producing professional songs in minutes, to its wide-ranging effects on artists and the industry, this blog discusses the exciting convergence of technology and creativity. It also highlights the impact on jobs in the global music industry, ushering in a new musical era.
Musicians are gifted, and they love hearing from one of their own about the business. So, let me be clear: I understand your trade. Music has always been a passion, not just a hobby. Although I’m slightly better than a bathroom singer, my dreams were cut short due to bronchitis.
- In the 90s, I became known as the go-to cassette recording guy. This skill funded my college adventures and made me a central figure in my social circle.
- My passion grew as I became a DJ in clubs during the early 2000s, spinning tracks for extra cash.
- In 2008, I moved to San Francisco as part of the IT Career. But, on the side, I studied music production. I mastered the trade with Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and samplers for fun, not profit.
- At Microsoft, as a tech enthusiast and futurist, I envisioned automating planning as a function in music with AI.
Now, after experimenting with generative AI, I can say it’s been revolutionary. My fascination is an understatement. Let’s dive into how the music industry is ready for a seismic transformation.
The Old Guard: Traditional Music Production Process in Hollywood & Bollywood
Traditionally, crafting a Bollywood song is akin to orchestrating a grand symphony. It starts with a music director, the maestro, who then teams up with lyricists, musicians, and a plethora of technical experts from arrangers to audio engineers. Each song is a meticulous construction of creativity and coordination, demanding both time and a hefty financial outlay. After its creation, a music label steps in, managing rights and distribution. This lengthy, expensive process has been the backbone of Bollywood music production — until now.
The Four Phases of Music Revolution
Phase 1: Orchestras and Live Recording
Era: Predominantly until the late 1980s
- In this initial phase, music production was primarily an acoustic affair, relying on live musicians playing real instruments.
- Recording took place in studios where large orchestras or bands would perform live while being recorded using analog equipment.
- This era valued the authenticity and human touch in music, with each performance capturing unique nuances.
- The process was labor-intensive and required significant logistical coordination, and any editing or modification of the recorded sound was minimal and difficult.
- The cost of music production was extremely high and labor-intensive.
Notable Figures:
- George Martin: Often referred to as the “Fifth Beatle,” Martin’s innovative studio techniques were crucial to the complex sounds of The Beatles.
- Phil Spector: Known for his “Wall of Sound” production technique, which layered multiple musicians to create a fuller, richer sound.
Key Technologies:
- Analog Tape Recorders: Devices like the Studer and Ampex reel-to-reel were pivotal in capturing live performances.
- Multitrack Recording: Introduced in the 1950s, allowing separate recordings of different sound sources that could be combined into a final mix.
Phase 2: Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) — Samples and Automation
Era: Began in the late 1970s and became mainstream by the 1990s
- The introduction of DAWs marked a revolutionary shift in music production.
- These computer-based systems allowed musicians and producers to record, edit, mix, and master music digitally.
- The use of samples — pre-recorded sounds or segments of music — became prevalent, enabling producers to incorporate a variety of sounds without needing live instruments or performers for each part.
- Automation tools within DAWs facilitated precise control over various aspects of the sound, from volume dynamics to effects, making production more versatile and efficient.
- This era significantly lowered the barrier to music production, allowing more individuals to create and manipulate music.
- This era also saw the rise of Music Labels and their monopolistic business models.
- Music piracy skyrocketed as a rebellion against the Labels and we all know the Napster episode!
Notable Figures:
- Dr. Dre: A pioneer in the use of digital production, particularly in hip-hop, utilizing DAWs to craft intricate beats and samples.
- Vangelis: A master of electronic music, known for his rich, textured compositions that blend synthesizers with full orchestras, Vangelis brought a futuristic sound to the music of the late 20th century, notably in films like “Blade Runner.”
- Hans Zimmer: Renowned for integrating electronic music with traditional orchestral arrangements, Zimmer has extensively used DAWs and other digital technologies to create iconic film scores. Recall Gladiator, Inception, Dune, The Batman Series, Interstellar, Dunkirk etc.
Key Technologies:
- Pro Tools: One of the first and most powerful DAWs, becoming a studio staple for editing, mixing, and mastering digital audio.
- FL Studio: Known for its user-friendly interface, it has been widely used by electronic music producers.
- Ableton Live: Renowned for its seamless integration of composition and live performance features.
- Steinberg Cubase: A highly versatile DAW that offers advanced MIDI and audio editing features, widely used by professionals for music composition and production.
- Apple Logic Pro: Favoured for its comprehensive recording, editing, and mixing capabilities, Logic Pro is particularly popular among musicians and audio engineers in the Apple ecosystem.
Phase 3: Internet, Social Media, and Cloud Computing
Era: 2005–2020
This era marked the integration of the internet, social media platforms, and cloud computing into music production, transforming how music was created, distributed, and consumed.
- The use of cloud-based music production tools enabled artists and producers to collaborate remotely across the globe.
- The use of online samples on a SaaS subscription basis also came in handy for producers.
- Social media platforms allowed musicians to directly engage with fans worldwide, significantly reducing the reliance on traditional music industry channels.
- Streaming services became the primary method for music consumption, reshaping monetization strategies and the economic landscape of the industry.
Key Personalities:
- Trent Reznor: An early adopter of digital and online music distribution, Reznor was among the first major artists to release an album online for free, demonstrating the potential of the internet as a distribution channel.
- Taylor Swift: Swift’s strategic use of social media for marketing and fan engagement set new standards for how artists connect with audiences and manage their personal brands.
- Chance the Rapper: Known for his independent release strategy, he leveraged streaming platforms and social media to great success, winning a Grammy without a traditional record deal.
Key Technologies:
- Spotify: Revolutionized music streaming with its launch in 2008, offering legal, on-demand access to a vast library of music and changing the way people consumed music.
- SoundCloud: Provided a platform for amateur and professional musicians to distribute and share their music easily, influencing the discovery of new music.
- Pro Tools Cloud Collaboration: Allowed artists and producers to collaborate on projects remotely, providing tools and storage in an online environment.
- Social Media Platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube): These platforms became essential for marketing, fan engagement, and the viral spread of music content.
- BandLab: A social music platform that combines music-making and collaboration tools. It offers easy access to a comprehensive set of music creation tools in a cloud-based environment, allowing users to create, collaborate, and share music globally.
- LANDR: Provides online mastering, music distribution, and a creative toolkit for musicians. LANDR uses AI to master tracks instantly and offers solutions for artists to release music across multiple platforms.
- Ableton Live Web: A simplified version of Ableton’s popular DAW that can be accessed through a web browser, making music production accessible from anywhere without the need for downloading software.
- Soundation: A cloud-based studio that allows users to produce, mix, and record songs with other users in real-time, fostering a collaborative music creation environment.
Phase 4.0: Generative AI Enabled — Prompt-Based: Text to Music
Era: Emerging prominently in the 2020s
- What many of you ChatGPT and LLM fans might not know is that on April 30, 2020, four years before the current GPT disruption, OpenAI launched Jukebox.
- Jukebox is a neural net that generates music, including rudimentary singing, as raw audio in a variety of genres and artist styles. Open AI released the model weights and code, along with a tool to explore the generated samples.
- Then the third phase of the revolution kick-started. This phase in music production involves the use of generative AI technologies.
- These systems can generate music based on textual prompts provided by users, integrating elements like genre, mood, instruments, and even lyrical themes.
- AI analyzes vast datasets of existing music to learn and mimic complex musical patterns and styles.
- This not only accelerates the music creation process but also democratizes music production, allowing individuals without traditional musical training to create high-quality music compositions.
- AI-generated music is increasingly indistinguishable from human-created music, pushing the boundaries of creativity and opening up new possibilities for personalized and adaptive music.
- We will see that in a later section with our experiments.
Each phase of music production has progressively leveraged technology to make music creation more accessible, efficient, and innovative, culminating in the current era where AI plays a pivotal role.
What Remains Common in All Three Phases?
- Score: The original music written specifically to accompany a film.
- Soundtrack: The collection of pre-existing songs selected and used within a film, or the recorded score of the film.
- Cue: A specific section of music composed to synchronize with a particular scene or moment in the film.
- Mixing: The process of combining various audio tracks into a single, cohesive audio output. In film, this involves balancing dialogue, sound effects, and music.
- Mastering: The final step in audio post-production, aiming to balance sonic elements of a stereo mix and optimize playback across all systems and media formats.
- Dubbing: The process of replacing the voices of the actors shown on the screen with those of different performers, often in a different language.
- Foley: The reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to film, video, and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality.
- ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement): The process of re-recording dialogue in the studio in synchronization with the visual play of the movie.
- Temp Track: Temporary music tracks used during the editing phase of a film to guide the pacing and mood.
- Sync Rights: The rights required to use a specific piece of music in timed relation with visual images on screen.
- Orchestrator: A professional who adapts the film score composed by a film composer into parts for the various instruments of an orchestra.
- Sampling: The technique of digitally encoding music or sound and reusing it as part of a composition or recording.
- Loop: A repeating section of sound material. Short sections of music can be repeated to create ostinato patterns.
- Track: A single song or piece of music on a record, CD, or digital medium.
- Session: A period of time reserved or required for recording music or completing a particular phase of the film scoring process.
Enter AI: The Game Changer
Cut to the present: AI enters the scene, and the music production playbook is rewritten in minutes.
What if I told you that you could bypass almost 90% of the traditional music production steps? That’s exactly what’s happening in today’s Bollywood music scene. Let’s explore how this new technology is not just streamlining but reinventing music production.
A Real-world Marvel: The AI Experiment
I recently experimented with a few generative AI tools, and the outcomes were nothing short of spectacular. In just 30 minutes, two distinct variations of a Bollywood song were born. Both sounded like they had been polished in top-tier studios. Here’s how it unfolded:
Technical Breakdown: How AI Crafts Music
Using an Online Tool:
I harnessed a few state-of-the-art online tools tailored for music generation. You have quite a few contenders here:
- Suno: Specializes in generating music tracks using AI algorithms.
- Aiva: Focuses on composing music for films, games, and commercials using AI.
- Amper Music: Allows for the creation and customization of original music through AI technology.
- Jukedeck: Caters to content creators by providing unique music pieces generated by AI.
- Ecrett Music: Generates AI music suitable for various media like movies and YouTube videos.
- Boomy: Enables users to create, release, and monetize their music, all powered by AI.
- Udio: Offers innovative AI tools to assist music producers in enhancing their creativity and efficiency.
Input Prompt:
The directive was clear:
“Craft a Bollywood song with dual vocalists celebrating rain, embodying the spirit of 90s Bollywood, complete with foot-tapping rhythms and a lush string section.”
AI at Work: As soon as I fed the lyrics and the prompt into the AI, it sprang into action.
- Creation of Rhythms and Melodies: What followed was a seamless creation of intricate rhythms and melodies, all aligned perfectly with the brief.
Lyric Composition:
I often write poems. So within 5 minutes, I could convert one of my poems and the lyrics were ready, setting the stage for AI. You can use Chat GPT or Copilot for the same.
Revelation of Versions: The final products were a revelation — each version reflecting a unique artistic interpretation, yet both oozing the charm of label-quality music. Here is how Generative AI gave me the next version;
The Final Outcome:
I thought to experiment further with a Bollywood Song. Picked up my favorite star Govinda and overlayed the song. Here is the outcome for you to see.
The Verdict
I have experimented with Hollywood Style music also with almost all the genres and am astounded. Picked up the Bollywood style as it involves a complex production process. The result is here for you to see!
Here’s what I think about the future of music production, reflecting both the advancements and challenges introduced by AI technology:
- Job Displacement: Many traditional roles in music production may diminish as AI continues to automate the creation and production processes.
- Democratization of Music Creation: AI will enable more individuals to create music, breaking down barriers that once required extensive technical knowledge or access to expensive equipment.
- Decline of Label Monopoly: The traditional dominance of music labels over production, distribution, and monetization is likely to weaken as artists gain direct access to markets via digital platforms.
- Reduced Production Costs: AI-driven platforms will make music production more affordable, allowing for more artists to produce quality music without significant investment.
- Impact on Musical Instruments and DAW Manufacturers: Companies that produce Digital Audio Workstations, hardware, and Instruments might see a dip in revenue as AI tools begin to replicate and perhaps surpass some functionalities of traditional DAWs.
- Reduced Dependency on Samplers: AI can generate unique sounds and samples, reducing reliance on existing samplers and sound libraries.
- Copyright Challenges for Singers and Composers: As AI generates music that may resemble existing works, the industry could face complex copyright issues regarding originality and ownership.
- Increased Creativity and Experimentation: Artists will have new tools to experiment with, potentially leading to new genres and styles that blend AI creativity with human emotion.
- Need for New Regulations and Policies: The music industry will need to develop new frameworks to address copyright, royalties, and other legal aspects in the age of AI-generated content.
- Emotional Connect: Questions will persist about whether AI can truly replicate the emotional depth that human composers and musicians bring to music.
If you are someone from the music industry, I will wait to hear from you. Do comment and share what you think.
A Heartfelt Request
Please know that behind these words is not a Chatbot or AI, but a human being, deeply passionate about the art of writing. If my expressions have touched your heart or sparked a thought, I warmly invite your engagement. Your interaction, be it through a clap, comment, follow, like, or subscription, holds immense value. Such gestures are more than just actions; they foster a positive community and encourage a deeper connection between us. These small acts of support are priceless to me, and I am genuinely grateful for your consideration. Thank you for being a part of my journey.
© 2024, Ajit Mishra. All Rights Reserved.
