AI Music: The Infinite Jukebox

AI Music: The Infinite Jukebox

Author: Financial Times September 3, 2025 Duration: 28:02

Generative AI models trained on vast swaths of popular music can create songs almost indistinguishable from human-made work. For some, they represent the future of pop music. For others, they threaten to flood the world with ‘AI slop’, drowning out the work of human artists, stealing musicians' jobs, and ending the process of music-making as we know it. Is this just a case of technophobia? Or could AI music generators replace human musicians altogether?


In the first in a two-part series, the FT’s pop critic Ludovic Hunter-Tilney speaks to musicians and artists about the inventive power of generative AI in music, as well as the potential threat it might pose to musicians’ livelihoods and the music industry as a whole. 


This series of Tech Tonic is presented by Ludovic Hunter-Tilney. The producers are Lulu Smyth and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Edwin Lane is the senior producer, Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original Music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. 


Music used in this episode: 


‘Chasing Horizons’ - generated by Udio 

‘Own the Night” - generated by Udio 

‘From Ashes to Madness’ - generated by Udio

‘Workplace Vibes’ - generated by Udio

‘Canaan (Live Training)’ - Holly Herndon. Copyright Herndon Dryhurst Studio

‘Evening Shades (Live Training)’ - Holly Herndon. Copyright Herndon Dryhurst Studio

‘Godmother’ - Holly Herndon. Copyright Herndon Dryhurst Studio

Music from Holly Herndon & Matt Dryhurst: The Call - Copyright Herndon Dryhurst Studio

‘Heart on My Sleeve’ - Ghostwriter977

‘Verknallt in einen Talahon’ - Butterbro / generated by Udio

‘Let it Burn’ - The Velvet Sundown

‘Sexual Healing’ - Written by Marvin Gaye, Odell Brown, and David Ritz. Copyright EMI Blackwood Music Inc. and EMI April Music Inc.

‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ - Written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, Copyright Sony Music Entertainment


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


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From the Financial Times, FT Tech Tonic steps beyond the breathless headlines and gadget launches to explore how technology is fundamentally reshaping our lives, economies, and social structures. This isn't just a series about the latest app; it's a deep, considered examination of the forces driving the digital age and their often unintended consequences. Each episode grapples with the complex interplay between innovation and its real-world impact, drawing on the FT's global reporting expertise to provide clarity and context. You'll hear conversations that dissect the power dynamics in Silicon Valley, investigate the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence, and explore how entrepreneurship is being redefined across different cultures. The podcast digs into the substance behind the hype, asking whether emerging technologies truly deliver on their promise to improve society or if they introduce new perils we are only beginning to understand. By weaving together threads from technology, business, and culture, the discussions offer a nuanced perspective that challenges simplistic narratives. Tune in for thoughtful analysis that connects the dots between boardroom strategies, algorithmic biases, and the everyday experiences that define our increasingly connected world.
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