AS artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly enters different industries, its impact on the music world is significant and diverse.
AI is changing how music is created, produced, and experienced, from generating new songs to improving production methods.
This column explores the transformative effects of AI on music, highlighting both the exciting opportunities it offers and the ethical challenges it presents for artists and listeners.
As we adapt to this evolving landscape, it is essential to find a balance between human creativity and machine efficiency.
The music industry in Zimbabwe is vibrant and rich with talent, despite facing challenges like limited monetisation from streaming and persistent piracy.
The digital music market in Zimbabwe is projected to grow significantly, with a projected market volume of US$25,35 million by the end of 2024 and a market volume of US$36,28 million by 2027 according to Statista.com, a global data and business intelligence platform.
The rise of digital platforms offers new opportunities for Zimbabwean musicians to reach global audiences, and initiatives like the National Music Strategy aim to address issues such as artist training and infrastructure.
However, economic difficulties continue to impact the sector, necessitating innovation and resourcefulness to thrive.
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Siri and Alexa Artificial intelligence powers both Siri and Alexa, the leading voice recognition systems from Apple and Amazon respectively.
I forecast that this will be the music consumption method of the future. Among other applications, I use both these voice-controlled assistants primarily for my music needs, enabling me to create endless playlists featuring my favourite songs across various genres, from the 1960s to date. I can request albums and singles on demand or select from my pre- made playlists using voice commands, all digitally and at no extra cost as long as my subscription is active.
Plus, I do not have to worry about sound quality — there are no scratches or degradation like we experienced with CDs, vinyl records, and turntables.
These Voice assistants illustrate how technology is transforming the global music industry through natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML).
While many of these devices utilise similar technologies, Siri is the clear market leader in sound quality.
Everything operates smoothly as long as I keep up with my monthly payments of US$15 for the Apple HomePod and US$7 for the Amazon Echo.
However, if my accounts fall behind (though that doesn’t happen), my access to the music, and for everyone I have shared it with, is cut off, no matter where in the world they are!
The digital divide Asked about the shifts and the dynamics of the general music terrain, Marcus Gora, an all-rounder who is the manager of the Zimbabwean award winning Mokoomba music outfit of Victoria Falls, and also sits on the Arts Council board, had this to say, “In Zimbabwe, like in most African countries, technology has disrupted the music industry impacting the entire ecosystem and its value chain. Innovation in music recording, transmission, distribution, consumption and storage has kept the industry going but it has also created winners and losers.
“The winners were the players who swiftly adapted to the rise of the internet, developing new platforms and media that addressed market demands. In contrast, some traditional record labels struggled and ultimately collapsed as album sales declined and piracy exploited distribution gaps.
“Additionally, flaws in the collecting society ecosystem meant that artists, producers, and songwriters received inadequate compensation, leaving many in financial distress while others had to shift their focus to live-music for survival,” he added.
Adapting to change Mathias Bangure, former Director of the Zimbabwe Chapter of Music Crossroads Southern Africa said: “In the past live music was to promote record sales.
The relationship between recorded music and live performances has reversed.
“Previously, live shows were often seen as a way to promote album sales, as record sales were the main source of revenue for artists and labels.
“Nowadays, live performances have become the main source of income for artists, with recorded music being used to promote concerts, tours, and festivals.
“Recent technology is also helping artists to earn added income from their music online. Artists now depend more on social media, streaming services, and free music sharing to attract fans and sell tickets.
“It is fascinating to witness the large crowds paying in hard currency to attend concerts by Zimbabwean artists when they go abroad. Legends like Tuku Music (RIP), Thomas Mapfumo, Winky D, Jah Prayzah, and Alick Macheso are prime examples.
“This shift is largely driven by changes in consumer behaviour, technological advancements, and the socio-economic and political dynamics in the country,” concluded Bangure, whose links with mainstream music is now on a consultancy basis.
Generative AI
Asked if the general digital infrastructure was ready for AI to sweep
throughout Zimbabwe, Gora said: “Local internet penetration is still limited and a lot of rural and urban populations do not have the best internet access like WiFi or the means to transact if they want to subscribe to streaming platforms for example.
“The next shift is coming, and this will be brought about by Generative AI. “The first area to be affected in my opinion is going to be music education. The generation and consumption of learning materials will change, challenging the very role of music schools and teachers”.
Asked about the fate of the art of music writing in the face of AI, Gora replied that it still remained to be seen as these were still the early days: “In the music recording space, producers can use generative plugins that will produce beats on demand with the producer only deciding which mood they want the song to take and the rest of the production is left to the machine.
“When the song is done and ready to be released, the press releases and the radio announcements can also be created by an AI Assistant. My preference is to continue to value human creativity.
“This safeguards our music industry jobs and earnings and at the same time, it communicates better who we are, how we feel as well as our hopes and aspirations,” concluded Gora.
Conclusion
As we stand at the cusp of a new era in Zimbabwe's music industry, it is clear that artificial intelligence is poised to play a transformative role.
The intersection of AI and music in Zimbabwe presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges.
Ultimately, the success of AI in Zimbabwe's music scene will depend on how well it can be harnessed to enhance, rather than replace, the
human element that makes Zimbabwean music so vibrant and compelling.
As the industry evolves, it will be essential to keep the focus on nurturing talent, preserving cultural identity, and ensuring that the benefits of technological advancements are equitably distributed among all stakeholders in the music ecosystem.
The journey ahead is both exciting and challenging, but with careful navigation and a commitment to innovation grounded in cultural values, Zimbabwe's music industry can emerge stronger and more dynamic in the AI era, continuing to captivate audiences both at home and around the world.
Bangure is a filmmaker. He has extensive experience in both print and electronic media production and management. He is a past chairperson of the National Employment Council of the printing, packaging and newspaper industry. He has considerable exposure to IT networks and Cloud technologies and is an enthusiastic scholar of artificial intelligence. — [email protected].
