AI & Music: Tool or Threat? episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 21, 2026 · 1H 6M

AI & Music: Tool or Threat?

from Musonomics · host Larry Miller

Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon for the music industry. It's here, and it's moving fast. But is AI the next great instrument in a long line of tools that musicians learn and master? Or is it something fundamentally different, a technology that doesn't extend what artists do, but replaces it? In the first episode of a three-part series, Larry sits down with Cherie Hu, founder of Water & Music, and Grammy Award-winning producer and AI analyst Yung Spielberg to map the current landscape: where the tools are, what's actually working, where value is concentrating, and what it all means for the next generation of artists. What you'll hear: - The modern history of AI in music and why music has lagged behind other creative fields in adopting it. - How Suno and Udio differ, and what Udio's shift to a closed, licensed platform means for creators. - Assistive vs. generative AI tools, and why those two worlds are increasingly colliding. - Where value is concentrating: platforms winning, major labels racing to deal, artists largely left out. - Should a 20-year-old artist be excited or worried? The case for live music and human connection as the safest bets

Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon for the music industry. It's here, and it's moving fast. But is AI the next great instrument in a long line of tools that musicians learn and master? Or is it something fundamentally different, a technology that doesn't extend what artists do, but replaces it? In the first episode of a three-part series, Larry sits down with Cherie Hu, founder of Water & Music, and Grammy Award-winning producer and AI analyst Yung Spielberg to map the current landscape: where the tools are, what's actually working, where value is concentrating, and what it all means for the next generation of artists. What you'll hear: - The modern history of AI in music and why music has lagged behind other creative fields in adopting it. - How Suno and Udio differ, and what Udio's shift to a closed, licensed platform means for creators. - Assistive vs. generative AI tools, and why those two worlds are increasingly colliding. - Where value is concentrating: platforms winning, major labels racing to deal, artists largely left out. - Should a 20-year-old artist be excited or worried? The case for live music and human connection as the safest bets

NOW PLAYING

AI & Music: Tool or Threat?

0:00 1:06:43

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Musonomics?

This episode is 1 hour and 6 minutes long.

When was this Musonomics episode published?

This episode was published on April 21, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon for the music industry. It's here, and it's moving fast. But is AI the next great instrument in a long line of tools that musicians learn and master? Or is it something fundamentally different, a...

Can I download this Musonomics episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!