The Human Signal #50 - The Fair Use Problem in AI Music [AIWFT? 5/11]

This is part five of an eleven part series called AIWTF? where I am discussing all things to do with AI and music and the digital music ecosystem as it stands today.In this episode, I’m working through the concept of fair use and how it’s being used to justify the current direction of AI in music. It’s something that underpins most of how content is shared online, but when applied to AI training and generated outputs, it starts to break down in uncomfortable ways.I walk through the key principles of fair use—what it allows, where its boundaries sit, and why creative work like music is much harder to defend within it. From there, I look at the ongoing lawsuits between artists, labels, and AI companies, and the contradictions that are starting to emerge.What becomes clear is that the system is trying to hold multiple positions at once: claiming transformation under fair use, while also moving toward monetisation and licensing of AI-generated outputs. Those positions don’t sit easily together, and it raises deeper questions about ownership, value, and what happens when extracted work begins to compete with its source.The episode addresses the tension of trying to make sense of a legal and cultural framework that no longer seems equipped for what’s happening.If you enjoyed this podcast please share it with a friend or consider leaving a comment or review, it really helps me out. You can also support me and my work by becoming a paid member, it’s €5 per month on Substack and Patreon. And lastly, you can still find me on YouTube / Instagram as @the_persona_project__ & @laurasheeran_ieThat’s all for now. Thanks for being here, and remember: Put humans first. Don’t feed the machines. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasheeran.substack.com/subscribe