The world will always need real artists. 

With the threat of AI music looming ever larger on the horizon, is there still a space for human artists? 

Absolutely. 

Always. 

Using Suno or Udio to create songs may be the topic du jour, but I firmly believe there will always be demand for real people making real music. 

It will just evolve. 

And that’s not necessarily the bad thing. 

The case for artists 

Now this isn’t a deep dive on my sentiments about AI music production. 

I’ll save that for another time. 

Instead, this is more of a look at why artists matter and why they always will. 

See, it’s the human element that draws us in the most. 

Because music, at its core, is about connection. 

That’s the whole point. 

Long before the days of Spotify or CDs or Vinyl or even 8-track tapes, music was a source of stories, worship, celebration, and community. 

And it still is. 

It just looks a little different these days. 

Our favorite songs, artists, and bands are rallying points that serve to bring us closer to one another. 

Art and artistry are how we find our tribe, our people, and our shared voice. 

Could an AI artist one day become a point of collective convergence. 

Maybe. 

Honestly, probably. 

But, in my opinion, it will simply be a different market within music rather than a direct competitor to genuine, human artists. 

Because the two are not the same. 

And they never will be. 

Separating the two 

In my mind, the best comparison for how AI artists and actual artists will intersect is similar to the way brands and brand ambassadors / influencers intersect today. 

Take LeBron James for example. 

You can be a LeBron fan, but you can also be a Nike fan. 

Or a Sprite fan. 

Or a Hummer fan. 

King James has been in ads for all three. 

But Nike doesn’t compete with LeBron for your attention. 

Not really. 

You know LeBron is a person, and so you might subscribe to what he has to say, how he thinks, and the causes he supports in addition to his achievements on the court. 

Conversely, maybe you like Nike for the culture as well as the products. 

You might even connect with other Nike lovers. 

But deep down, you’re keenly aware that Nike isn’t a person. 

Obviously. 

And because Nike isn’t a person, you don’t have the same affinity for the brand that you do for LeBron. 

Because James is an actual human being, whereas Nike is a brand and experience fabricated by humans.  

It’s not to say one is better or worse. 

They’re just different. 

And I believe AI artists and human artists will be the same. 

The upside 

As far as I’m concerned, AI will never replace the feeling you get from absolutely loving a band or artist, knowing they’re a person or group of people who exist in the world. 

There’s just no replacement for hearing your favorite songs live, watching the band you love play them. 

Because making good music isn’t just about putting your songs on Spotify. 

It’s about telling stories, building a world, and connecting people. 

With you. 

With one another. 

And those connections require humanity. 

AI can do a lot of things well, but being a human being isn’t one of them. 

At least not yet.