By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
Introduction
The pulse of the music industry quickens every week. New technological tools, legal disputes, and alternative proposals are reshaping a landscape where independent music It can be both an advantage and a challenge. In this series of weekly summaries, we aim to offer a critical yet accessible perspective for those who live and work in music from the independent trenches.
Beyond the noise of the headlines, the objective is clear: to understand what these new developments mean for those who record in their own home studio, experiment with new platforms, or wonder how to protect their identity in times of artificial intelligence.
1. AI under scrutiny: demands and risks
The debate about artificial intelligence in music has just entered a crucial phase. The American musician Tony Justice filed lawsuits against Suno y Udio, Two of the most influential companies in the automatic generation of songs. According to the indictment, both trained their models with millions of unauthorized works, constituting a form of unrecognized exploitation of creators. The case could set a precedent for the regulation of AI in the music industry.
Adding to this picture is an incident that occurred in the United Kingdom. Folk singer Emily Portman He discovered a fake album, created entirely with AI, that mimicked his style and was circulating on streaming platforms as if it were his own. The controversy raised concerns about the vulnerability of artistic identity in the digital age: it's not just about copyright, but about the possibility of a machine supplanting a creator's voice and style.
👉 Relevance for the independent worker: These stories reveal the very real risk that an artist's work—and even their identity—can be used without permission. Legal defense and digital surveillance are becoming, more than ever, an integral part of creative life.
2. AI as a creative ally
The debate is not one-sided. A recent academic study analyzed 337 musical and artistic projects that incorporate artificial intelligence as a co-creative tool. The works range from compositions and vocal pieces to interactive sound installations. The main finding: AI, used judiciously, does not supplant the creator, but rather expands their expressive spectrum.
Far from simply imitating what already exists, many of the projects investigated explore languages impossible to achieve with traditional methods. Technology, in this sense, functions as a new instrument: a resource with still unexplored possibilities that depends on the artist's vision to acquire meaning.
👉 Relevance for the independentBeyond the threat, AI can also become a creative ally that opens up expressive paths, as long as control remains in the hands of the musician.
3. New platforms for a fairer ecosystem
While technology redefines creative processes, initiatives are also emerging that seek to transform how rights and distribution are managed. In India, one such initiative appeared. Hoopr, a platform designed to simplify licensing and ensure transparent payments in a market that loses more than $1.2 billion annually due to irregular practices. Although it is a local case, its model opens up the conversation about solutions that could be replicated in other countries.
For their part, SoundCloud It tries to recapture the spirit that made it a reference point for emerging music. With the launch of First Fans, With an AI-based system that recommends artists to potential listeners, and distribution and mastering plans accessible from just USD 3.25 per month, the platform aims to give prominence back to creators in the early stages of their careers.
👉 Relevance for the independent worker: These proposals show that there are viable alternatives for distributing music and generating income without relying exclusively on the major players in the market.
4. The interesting fact of the week
Did you know how much each streaming platform pays independent artists? According to recent data, Apple Music offers around $0.01 per stream, while Spotify offers just $0.003. At the higher end, Tidal and Napster offer over $0.012 per play, although with much smaller audiences.
👉 Relevance for the independent worker: Understanding these differences allows for better planning of distribution and promotion strategies. It's not just about being everywhere, but about assessing where your music can have the greatest impact.
Conclusion: a contested territory
The music industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, with independent artists at the center of the tension. Artificial intelligence poses unprecedented risks—from lawsuits for unauthorized training to identity theft—, but it also opens up spaces for experimentation and collaborative creation. At the same time, platforms are emerging that seek to balance the scales, offering fairer and more accessible models for rights management and distribution.
The message is clear: being informed is no longer optional. For the independent musician, Understanding and adapting to these dynamics can be the difference between being left behind or turning uncertainty into opportunity in the music industry.
