Think of all the moments in which music fills our lives without us realising: Call-waiting tunes when we're on hold with customer service, theme songs in video games, audio logos (such as Netflix's tudum and Intel's five-note clip). Five years ago, these would have been composed by a human being. Now, they're more likely to be birthed by AI. Even a familiar sounding song might have come out of a machine. Heart on My Sleeve, which went viral last year, sounds like it was sung by Drake and The Weeknd. It was actually written and produced by TikTok user ghostwriter977, but made (via AI) to sound like the Canadian artists.
The bots are getting closer and closer to creating music that sounds like the real thing, says Mansoor Rahimat Khan, co-founder of BeatOven, an AI-driven start-up that helps composers and content creators create exclusive, royalty-free music. "Technology has started sounding good," he admits. "Back in 2019, there were three to five AI music start-ups globally, which had 3 million users. Today there are about 50 to 100 million users who generate soundtracks on AI products."
You've probably heard some of it already. It's in the background music on YouTube videos or in travel blogs. Albums of low-fi ambient music - stuff designed to play while people shop, ride the elevator, wait in reception areas - are already on Spotify. "AI is taking over the space where you listen to music passively," says Khan. "In active listening cases, as when Arijit Singh is singing, it hasn't." He estimates that by 2026, AI will compose most passive listening music, leaving human composers to create the more meaningful work.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Staying well within range
Driving from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar in an XC40 Recharge at night means going against the odds but it's not dangerous
Forget demure, forget mindful
Women are expected to dress their age. But why should arbitrary numbers dictate anyone's choices? Wear what you want, when you want
Bubbling under, boiling over
The year's best food yet, from Bandra to Seoul, from old names and new, from starters to afters
The new spin doctors
Come for the hooping, stay for fire poi, dapostar, leviwand and more. India's newest subculture blends art and athletics, meditation and showmanship, public and private. And it looks great on the 'gram
Shall we put a label on this?
What is high fructose corn syrup? Is red dye good? Dieticians and nutritionists break down the confusing stuff we see on food labels
Pho heaven's sake, explore!
There's more to Vietnam than the Golden Bridge or Ha Long Bay. Discover limestone cliffs, rice terraces, and local foods that haven't made it to the 'gram
No. Wait. She did what?
These mean girls are self-centred, bratty, and can make your life hell. But they stole the show. Read on, loser. And tell us how it wasssss
Are you seeing spots too?
Jyoti Bhatt's serigraphs use traditional symbols in modern ways, creating art that is slyly clever and full of little stories
Leave us to our own devices
Instead of banning gadgets, restaurants should ban people that are actually disturbing the peace
Siam Siam, but different
The reason Indians feel instantly at home in Thailand is because their mix of Hindu and Buddhist traditions so closely mirrors our own, creating a comfort zone abroad