Subvolts take AI is reshaping music creation and awards, prompting a rethink of human artistry. Jun 1, 2026 - Business
- Understand how AI is disrupting creative industries and influencing policy and awards.
- Everyday users
- Learn about the growing use of AI in music and its implications for artists you listen to.
This interview offers a direct perspective from the head of the Recording Academy on AI's significant and current impact on the music industry.
AI is blowing up music. How should the Grammys handle it?
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Decoder’s Nilay Patel talks with Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. about generative AI’s growing impact on music production. Mason Jr. notes AI is now “omnipresent” and discusses how musicians use these tools, the quality of AI-generated music, and the challenge of supporting human artists in this evolving landscape. The conversation explores the implications for music awards like the Grammys.
AI is now a common tool for making music, changing how songs are created. This episode discusses how musicians use AI, if the music is good, and how to ensure human artists are still valued.
This episode is for musicians, industry professionals, and anyone curious about AI's creative applications. It delves into the practical use of AI in music, its artistic merit, and the ethical considerations of human artists' roles. Listeners will understand how AI is reshaping a major creative industry, mirroring the broader AI frontier labs' efforts to integrate AI into consumer and creative products, raising questions about authenticity and intellectual property.
- HostNilay Patel
- GuestHarvey Mason Jr.CEO, Recording Academy
- Guest: Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy
- Show: Decoder with Nilay Patel
- Length: 66 minutes
- AI in Music: AI is “omnipresent” in music production.
I last talked to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr in 2024 — when it was obvious that generative AI would upend the music industry, but not exactly clear how that would happen.
Now, Harvey says AI is “omnipresent” in music production. So what kinds of tools are musicians using, in what way, and what kind of music is it making for us? Is it any good? And how do we identify, and take care of, actual human musicians in this mess?
Read the full interview transcript on The Verge.
Links:
- Why the Grammys need to change, with CEO Harvey Mason Jr | Decoder
- Is ‘blue dot fever’ a real problem for the concert industry? | Los Angeles Times
- USA v. LiveNation-Ticketmaster: All the news | The Verge
- The future of country music is here, and it’s AI | The Verge
- Poll: AI is transforming how we think about music | Hollywood Reporter
- Inside the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ era of AI in music | Rolling Stone
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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.
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- generative AI
- Harvey Mason Jr.
- AI that can create new content like music or text.
Questions people ask
- How prevalent is AI in music production?
- Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. states that generative AI is now “omnipresent” in music production.
- What are the key challenges AI presents to the music industry?
- The episode addresses how to identify and support human musicians amidst AI-generated content and how awards like the Grammys should adapt.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to The Verge.