Reading - Is True Art Dead in the Era of Algorithms and AI?

Being an artist has never been easy. Vincent Van Gogh cut off his own ear, the Impressionists were ignored in their time, and J.S. Bach only became famous after he died. Today, artists face new problems: free music online, streaming platforms like Spotify, and now artificial intelligence (AI) that can create music or art.

But should we care about this? I believe yes. When we look at history, we remember art, not only wars or science. Art gives us comfort and helps us understand the world. It shows our creativity and emotions—things that make us human.

I thought about all this while watching The Playlist, a Netflix series from Sweden. It tells the story of how Spotify was created. I expected the series to support technology, but it shows how Spotify changed the music industry and made things worse for many musicians.

One big problem is money. Artists don’t earn much from each stream. Most of the money goes to record companies, not the artists. Daniel Ek, the CEO of Spotify, believes that music should be free. He is shown as smart but cold, and he doesn’t listen to other people’s opinions.

I wanted to understand more, so I talked to a friend, Tristan Jehan. He used to work at Spotify. He knows a lot about music and technology. He also understands AI.

Many artists today are worried that AI will replace them. Some people already use AI to create songs, images, or videos. But Tristan reminded me that new technologies always bring fear at first. When photography started, people thought painting was finished. But it actually helped create new styles of art.

He believes the same will happen with AI. There may be confusion at first, but real artists will always find a way to create something new and honest. AI can help, but it cannot replace human emotion and personality.

Streaming has replaced CDs and records, making about $18 billion a year. But 70% of that money goes to record labels. These companies don’t have the same costs as before, but they still don’t pay artists well. Some people say the problem is the record companies, not Spotify.

Another issue is concerts. Most of an artist’s money comes from concerts. Streaming is just a way to get noticed—just like radio used to be. But what about songwriters who don’t perform? They don’t earn much and are often forgotten.

Also, people today focus more on how music sounds than how it's written. Performance is more important than composition. But maybe that will change too.

I asked Tristan if the music we listen to today will still be popular in 50 years. Will people still prefer old music like the Beatles or Pink Floyd?

“Possibly,” he said.

I think it’s more than possible. But I also believe change is coming. Music, like all art, goes through ups and downs. One day, there will be a new wave of powerful and original music. Because we are not machines—we are humans, and we are inspired.

And that’s why I wrote this text.

Read the full article here.

VOCABULARY

• artist: a person who creates art (music, paintings, etc.)
  Taylor Swift is a famous artist.

• streaming: listening to or watching something online without downloading
  Many people use Spotify for streaming music.

• AI (Artificial Intelligence): a type of computer program that can do tasks like humans
  AI can now write songs and make pictures.

• record label: a company that helps musicians produce and sell their music
  The artist signed a contract with a big record label.

• inspiration: a feeling or idea that helps you create something new
  She got the inspiration for her song from a dream.

• platform: a system or website where something is shared
  YouTube is a platform for videos.

• replace: to take the place of something or someone
  Some people think AI will replace human musicians.

• compensation: money you get for your work
  The artist didn’t receive enough compensation for her song.

ACTIVITIES

1 - Choose the correct answer:

2 - True or False?

3 - Match the words with their meanings:

4 - Do you think AI can really replace artists? Why or why not? Write your answer in the comments.