ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus Embraces AI as Creative Partner for New Musical at 80

ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus Crafts New Musical with AI: A Writer’s Perspective

Björn Ulvaeus, the legendary Swedish songwriter behind ABBA, is venturing into new creative territory by writing a musical with the help of artificial intelligence. At 80 years old, he remains deeply curious and open to exploring tools that can expand his songwriting process.

Speaking at SXSW London, Ulvaeus shared that he is about three-quarters through developing this AI-assisted musical. This project follows the success of ABBA’s avatar-driven show Voyage and highlights his ongoing interest in blending technology with storytelling through music.

AI as a Creative Partner, Not a Threat

Contrary to concerns in the music industry about AI replacing human creativity, Ulvaeus views the technology as a valuable collaborator. He describes AI as "like having another songwriter in the room with a huge reference frame," extending his creative reach by suggesting ideas that might not have occurred otherwise.

However, he is realistic about AI’s current limits. Ulvaeus notes that AI struggles to write an entire song or craft strong lyrics. Still, it excels at offering prompts and extensions when writers hit a block, sparking fresh directions in the creative process.

• Use AI to expand on partial lyrics or themes.
• Experiment with different styles by prompting AI for variations.
• Extract inspiration even from imperfect AI outputs.

Leveraging Technology Throughout a Career

Ulvaeus’s enthusiasm for technology isn’t new. During his ABBA years, he and Benny Andersson eagerly adopted new instruments and recording methods to shape their sound. From early synthesizers to digital recording machines, their willingness to try new tools helped define their music.

Today, with Pophouse Entertainment—the company behind ABBA Voyage—he continues to innovate by using AI and other tech to reimagine musical legacies. Ulvaeus envisions Pophouse as a “creative hub” for blending legacy content with new technologies.

Protecting Artists’ Rights in the Age of AI

While embracing AI’s creative potential, Ulvaeus also advocates strongly for artists’ rights. As part of the International Confederation of Songwriters and Composers (CISAC), he emphasizes the need for AI music generators to compensate original creators. These AI systems rely heavily on existing songs for training, so fair royalty models—similar to those in streaming—are essential.

Storytelling Remains at the Core

Throughout his career, Ulvaeus has been driven by storytelling in music. Whether writing ABBA’s narrative-rich hits or the stage musical Mamma Mia!, he focuses on embedding stories within songs rather than simple pop clichés. This approach continues in his current AI-assisted work, blending narrative depth with new creative methods.

For writers interested in incorporating AI into their own workflows, Ulvaeus’s experience offers practical insights:

• See AI as a tool to complement, not replace, your creativity.
• Use it to overcome creative blocks by generating unexpected ideas.
• Be mindful of AI’s limitations, especially in lyric writing.
• Advocate for fair use policies that respect creative ownership.

Ulvaeus’s drive to explore new methods is a reminder that curiosity and adaptability are vital traits for any writer. Embracing AI thoughtfully can open fresh avenues for storytelling and composition.

For those interested in expanding their skills with AI tools in writing and creativity, resources like prompt engineering courses and AI tool databases can provide valuable guidance.