At Butter Music and Sound, we’re all about staying curious and exploring the latest innovations in music and sound. Lately, that means diving into tools like ChatGPT and Suno to see how they’re shaping our industry. There’s a lot of exciting potential, but also some big questions about creativity and intellectual property.
On the bright side, AI tools like Suno are making it easier than ever for our clients to prototype music. They can experiment with moods, vibes, and even lyrics in a way that’s fast and flexible. It’s a whole new way to explore and refine ideas. ChatGPT, on the other hand, has been like "RhymeZone on steroids" for us. It’s great for spitting out tons of lyrical options, which we can then whittle down and craft into something truly unique.
But while these tools are super helpful, they come with some ethical baggage. The AI behind them learns from massive datasets that often pull from existing creative works. That raises concerns about "micro thefts"—tiny, hard-to-spot borrowings from other people’s IPs. As creators, we feel it’s on us to stay aware of how these tools are developed and used.
And let’s be real—AI still has a long way to go. For instance, while it’s decent at lyrics, it’s terrible at comedy. Jokes need timing, nuance, and a certain cultural touch that AI just doesn’t have yet. Since humor is a big part of what we do, we’re not worried about ChatGPT stealing our jobs anytime soon.
For us, AI is more of a creative booster than a replacement. It helps us brainstorm and experiment, but it can’t replace the heart and soul of human creativity. As we explore this new frontier, we’re committed to using AI responsibly, advocating for fair practices, and keeping our focus on what matters: making music and sound that connects with people.
Tim Kvasnosky is Executive Creative Director at Butter (www.gimmebutter.com), an international music and sound company with location in New York City and Venice, CA.