By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
Cover art by Zonagirante Studio
Introduction
The music industry is undergoing a silent upheaval. It's not a sonic revolution, but a technological, legal, and emotional one. The business is being reconfigured amidst algorithms that promise to understand us better than we understand ourselves, record labels that fear AI will steal their artists… and independent musicians who, as always, are caught in the middle: trying to figure out how to survive, how to be heard, and how not to lose their identity in the process.
In recent days, small but significant things have happened. Changes that, seen together, paint a very clear picture of where global music is headed. And, above all, what risks and opportunities arise for those who create from the margins.
Spotify and the major labels: “Legal” AI is on its way
Spotify announced partnerships with Universal, Sony, and Warner to develop "responsible" artificial intelligence tools that respect copyright. Translation: They want AI, but without multimillion-dollar lawsuits for stolen voices or cloned songs.
This marks a turning point. AI is no longer a free-for-all; it's starting to have rules, contracts, and lawyers.
What are the consequences for independent artists? The good news: perhaps their work will finally be protected from cheap imitations. The bad news: the most powerful tools will once again remain in the hands of large corporations.
OpenWav: the dream of becoming independent (without a record label)
The startup OpenWav, Backed by Wyclef Jean, she launched an app where artists can upload music and sell merch, to organize concerts and connect directly with their audience. Without managers, without record labels, without algorithms deciding whether they exist or not.
It sounds utopian. But it also raises questions:
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Does it work outside the US?
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Does it support scenes like Latin America, where the independent artist still sells records hand-to-hand and borrows cables to play?
Even so, it is a clear sign of what's to come: platforms that not only distribute music, but also offer autonomy.
Amazon Music and the algorithm that “knows how you feel”
Amazon Music It launched “Weekly Vibe”: a personalized playlist every Monday, created by AI based on the user's habits and moods. Ideal for those who don't want to think about what to listen to.
But for the musician, the story is different: getting on those playlists is like walking into a club you weren't invited to. You're not competing against other artists, but against the emotional perception of a machine that decides if your song "fits.".
Deezer takes a stand against AI-generated music
Deezer It began labeling songs created with artificial intelligence and alerting the listener. Furthermore, it seeks to curb fake playback tricks and repetitive albums designed solely to generate revenue. royalties.
This is no small matter: for the first time, a platform is demanding transparency.
For those who work with honesty and creativity, it can be a relief. For those who inflate numbers or upload 200 soulless AI-generated tracks, it's a warning.
Conclusion: So what do we freelancers do now?
Between laws, algorithms, and promises of digital freedom, the independent artist remains in the same uncomfortable place as always: forced to reinvent themselves.
But there's a difference: this time, the rules aren't fully written yet.
The big platforms are reshuffling, startups are looking to change the game, and the public is getting tired of the artificial.
Perhaps —just perhaps— it's the perfect time to reappear with something real, human, and difficult to replace.