Billy Corgan AI Music: What Does the Smashing Pumpkins Frontman Think of New Technology?

Billy Corgan
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KROQ/Entercom

Artificial Intelligence is widely spreading across the music industry today and many artists are alarmed by this matter as technology could easily generate voices of musicians and transform it into songs.

More recently, it appears that the Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan approves of AI despite many singers protesting against it.

According to NME, the rocker recently spoke with DJ Zach Sang for US Radio wherein he explained why he's in favor of the new technology.

@zachsangshow @Billy Corgan says artifical intelligence will change music forever #billycorgan #smashingpumpkins #ai #artificialintelligence #zachsangshow #zachsang #danzolot #fyp #foryou @Amp ♬ original sound - Zach Sang Show

"AI will change music forever. Because once young artists figure out that they can use AI to game the system and write them a better song," he said, adding that the next generation of musicians won't spend "10,000 hours in a basement" anymore like he did.

Billy Corgan Opens Up About the Use of AI in Music

The musician further discussed that art is about "discernment," saying he spoke to someone recently, sharing how a rap artist would work on a certain project. It begins with different people pointing out the beat they like.

But today, with the use of artificial intelligence, artists could just ask a generator to give them beats and would pick the best out of it.

"Are they ripping it off? Not really. Because I did the same thing. I just did it analog. I listened to 10,000 songs - so what's the difference? So it will really be about those who can discern, even if it's AI presenting them with choices," he added.

However, the Smashing Pumpkins vocalist is also aware of the downside of the technology, saying organic artists like him will have a hard time to compete with people who doesn't know how to write tracks but "have good discernment."

AI Music: Not All Musicians Approve of the New Technology

While Billy Corgan approves of AI music, former The Police frontman Sting warned the public about the "battle" between humans and technology in the music industry.

He told the BBC that the "building blocks of music" belong to human beings and there could possibly be a battle in the years to come, especially when it comes to defending the human capital against artificial intelligence.

On the other hand, Ice Cube spoke with "Full Send Podcast" where he warned content creators that uses AI that he will sue them if he uses his voice for a track. (via XXL Mag)

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Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, News, Music
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