#Musicians: If you aren’t using AI… everyone else is
Indie digital distributor Ditto Music recently released surprising statistics about how their musician and label community uses AI.
by Bobby Owsinski from Music 3.0
It’s agreed that AI (artificial intelligence) is the word and concept of the moment, just like Web3, NFT and metaverse last year. The big difference is that so many artists, bands and musicians have already been using AI to help them do something with music, as compared with the relatively few involved with the hot concepts of the past. In a recent study by music distributor Ditto Music, the company surprisingly found that a majority of its members are already using AI.
Here’s what they found:
- Almost 60% were already using AI.
- 38% had used AI to develop artwork
- Almost 31% have used an AI tool for mastering their music
- 20% have used it in music production
- 11% have used AI to help with songwriting
Most of these musicians have had a good enough experience with AI to want to use it again on future projects.
- 76% said they’d use it again for artwork
- 66% said they’re use it again for mastering
- 62% said they’d use it again for music production
- 41% said they’d use it again for songwriting
But there are still musicians that would prefer to use traditional methods without an AI’s help. Overall, 28.5% said they would never use AI on their projects. That’s not necessarily because they’re purists, as the data shows.
- 28% said they didn’t have access to the tools.
- 25% said they didn’t have any time to check it out.
- 23% cited lack of creativity coming from the AI tool.
- 17% said they couldn’t afford it.
- 7% cited a number of factors that kept them away.
The interesting thing here is that there are many free AI tools available, although it does require you spend some time getting your feet wet before you can really use it for a project.
That said, AI for music is here (it actually has been for a few years already) and many musicians are taking advantage of the tools right now.
Bobby Owsinski is a producer/engineer, author and coach. He has authored 24 books on recording, music, the music business and social media.
