AI is Killing Music, and Design Can't Be Far Behind
We’re witnessing the systematic dismantling of human artistry—and it’s only getting started.
Right now, I’m listening to The Velvet Sundown's haunting ’70s-rock melodies. The guitar work is crisp, the harmonies hit just right, and their sound carries that nostalgic vibe reminiscent of lazy Sunday afternoons with Crosby, Stills & Nash. But here’s the catch: none of this is real.
The Velvet Sundown, who amassed over a million streams on Spotify in just weeks, turned out to be entirely AI-generated. Not just their music, but the promotional photos, backstory, even their ambiguous “somewhere between human and machine” persona. They even used retro fonts to evoke nostalgia. It’s all artificial—and honestly, it’s unsettling.
The Next Big Disruption
This isn’t just a novelty; it’s a major shakeup for the music industry. If you remember the late ’90s, Napster flipped the industry on its head. Suddenly, teenagers could download albums for free, record stores closed, and the old model of selling £15 CDs crumbled. The industry adapted over time—embracing streaming and focusing on live shows—but now AI threatens to upend everything again.
This time, it’s not just about how we consume music. AI is questioning whether human musicians are even necessary anymore.
History Repeats Itself in Design
Similar patterns emerged in design when the internet took off. At first, demand for digital assets exploded. Print designers learned HTML, Photoshop became essential, and everyone needed websites and digital ads. But as the web matured, the demand for traditional design work started to erode.
Why hire a designer for a simple website when templates exist? Why pay for a unique logo when AI can generate one instantly? The technology that once created opportunities is now consuming them.
Fast forward to 2025, and AI is ready to finish this process. Website design itself is declining as AI chatbots reduce the need for traditional sites. Illustrators face AI tools that produce artwork from simple text prompts. The creative industry is staring down its own Napster moment—except this time, the threat is not just distribution but the value of human creativity itself.
Authenticity and Consumer Choice
The Velvet Sundown story raises tough questions: When streaming music, do listeners have the right to know if it was made by a human or AI? Some in the music industry push for mandatory AI labelling on streaming platforms. But if AI music moves us emotionally and sounds indistinguishable from human-created tracks, does the source truly matter?
Are we holding on to human authenticity because we prefer it, or just because it’s the familiar?
Design and Music: Parallel Challenges
Both music and design rely on human creativity, emotional connection, and honed skills. Now, both face AI systems that replicate their outputs with alarming speed and quality. Consumers may not care about the human touch as much as we think.
Design agencies already use AI tools as assistants, but increasingly as primary creators. Junior designers who once spent hours crafting color palettes can now generate dozens of options in minutes. Mid-level designers who made bespoke illustrations watch AI do similar work from simple prompts.
Meanwhile, the music industry’s response feels like trying to hold back the tide with a teaspoon. Calls for legislation, transparency, and appeals to human creativity are understandable but probably futile. Technology doesn’t care about feelings. Consumers tend to choose convenience and cost over principle.
What’s Next for Creatives?
Listening again to The Velvet Sundown, I admit I’m enjoying it. Part of me wonders if this is a double-hoax—a real band using the AI narrative as clever marketing. Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change the bigger picture: AI is already good at making music.
Most people want background music that’s ambient and unchallenging. AI fits perfectly into that role, without the hassle or cost of hiring humans. Just as the recording industry eventually accepted streaming despite initial resistance, creative industries will likely have to coexist with AI rather than fight it.
The real question is not if AI will transform music and design, but how fast and how completely. The Velvet Sundown fooled a million listeners and gave a glimpse of a future where human creativity becomes optional. That reality is more unsettling than finding out your favorite band is a digital ghost.
For creatives looking to adapt, understanding AI’s impact is crucial. Learning to work alongside AI tools—and even mastering them—can help maintain relevance in this shifting landscape. For courses and training on AI tools tailored for creative professionals, explore resources like Complete AI Training’s creative courses.
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