Megastar residencies and Assistive-AI Creativity
Edition 15
Hi folks
Happy Wednesday! Welcome to The Industry Playlist šµ
This week I dive into the rise of megastar mini-residencies, and why the future of AI in music should be assistive and not generative.
Finally, I met Gaurav at the AAMā24. An unassuming soft-spoken artist from Gurgaon, making hindi RnB which I found refreshing. Heās very early in his craft but heās already self-released 2 full albums last year. Check out Teri Yaad Aati Kyun Hai šµ
Now, letās get to it.
šŖ SONIC SHIFTS
Rise of Mini-Residencies: A Megastar Phenomenon
The trend of mini-residenciesāartists performing multiple shows in the same cityāhas been gaining momentum, with megastars like Adele, U2 and Metallica leading the charge. There are obvious economic and logistical benefits to touring like this, but perhaps the biggest value-add to this is creating an immersive, destination-worthy experience for fans.
Adeleās custom and temporary stadium in Munich looks amazing. It holds 80k fans and hosts āAdele Worldā, a themed outdoor environment where fans can enter early and stay late. Itās got a second stage for more live entertainment. This is fresh kind of worldbuilding (artist-centric, live-first) we are witnessing, working in tandem with fanās desire for unique experiences.
Clearly, these residencies are more than just cost-effective; they allow artists to create immersive, high-production experiences that would be impossible to replicate on a traditional tour. I suspect this model will become increasingly appealing, as artists look to build deeper connections with their audiences, making each show a unique event rather than just another stop on a tour. For top-tier artists, the benefits of mini-residencies are clear.
However, there are downsides we might be missing. Increased fan travel to hubs contributes to a larger carbon footprint. With megastars skipping performing in more cities (traditional touring), you have essentially shifted the burden of travel costs to the fans. If more artists opt for this model, it could result in fewer traditional tours, changing how music is marketed and experienced. The focus on high-profile events could drain attention and resources away from grassroots music scenes, potentially stifling local talent development.
Mini-residencies represent an exciting new chapter in live music, but their long-term impact will require careful consideration of these broader industry changes.
Assistive AI in Music: A Second Brain for Producers
Imagine if you could train ChatGPT with all the knowledge in your brain, making it respond with your unique ideas instead of the internetās average. Essentially, a second brain. The perfect assistant.
Thatās what Lemonaide, a rising player in the AI music scene, is letting producers do - integrating their personal music libraries, producers can create unique, high-quality AI generated loops and tracks - that maintains their artistic integrity.
This is not a novel idea, but its being done with music for the first time. The fusion of the internetās collective knowledge (ethically sourced, hopefully) with your distinctive sound creates something freshā itās like having a music producer buddy who mirrors your creativity.
This is what I call assistive-AI, rather than a generative-AI model. The impact on human-led creativity will vary depending on which lane (assistive or generative) we choose. Assistive AI amplifies human personality and enriches culture, whereas generative AI, often drawing from unethically sourced data, lacks personality and risks flattening culture.
š CURATED INSIGHTS
šØ After the Creator Economy [PDF] - Fabulous report on an alternative creative ecosystem that challenges the assumptions of the current model and suggests some cultural and technological shifts that get us closer towards new solutions.
The State of A&R - The ability to hear music, distinguish exceptional quality, and understand how it will connect with a large audience has always been the critical skill set, even in a streaming world.
Building a Scale Model for AI Data Licensing - If licensing were to become the norm for training data, whether by legislation, legal precedent or industry agreement, relying on bespoke direct deals between individual publishers and individual AI companies is unlikely to prove a practical approach.
How to Tell If That Song Was Made With AI - AI music isn't on its way; it's already here.
Breaking down the DoJ Lawsuit - I wrote in Edition 04 about DOJ suing Live Nation. This is a Live Nation article arguing that Live Nation does not wield monopoly power. Good to learn the other perspective when most of the coverage is pro-breakup.
Aerosmith Canceled Their Tour - So what happens to the money at stake? An insurance expert breaks it down.
š„ KEEP TRACK OF
Chinese Tech Giant Debuts āWorldās First AI Music Streaming Platformā - Melodio has big bucks and pedigree behind it. China is a black box, and reportedly it is winning the AI wars against the US; which is an important consideration - anything that comes out of China on AI music consumption and creation must be closely followed.
āļø INTERESTING STUFF
100gigs.org - Drake put up 100 gigs worth of his content and music on a new website. Pitchfork calls it certified fluff.
Thatās all for today. Weāll be back in your inbox next week.
Thanks for reading,
Rohit
This is quickly becoming one of my favourite newsletters to read every week!