Trending on TikTok → Distribution Halted: Used by Professionals, But They Don't Want to Admit It — AI Music is Happening in Nashville

1. You Might Already Be Listening—AI Music is "Already Everyday"

"Without realizing it, you must have encountered songs created by AI (or largely by AI)." This episode of The Vergecast begins with such an introduction. The program page suggests that if you've been browsing TikTok, you've likely heard songs that have been trending in recent weeks. AI tools, particularly Suno, are infiltrating the music production process, especially strengthening their presence in Nashville, the "capital of country." The Verge

The important point here is that the preconception of "AI music equals amateur play" is beginning to crumble. The Vergecast invites music journalist Charlie Harding to trace the "Nashville scene" he covered. Even if it appears quiet on the surface, AI is becoming a norm in production—though not everyone wants to openly admit it. The Verge

2. What is "vibe-write": Specifying the Atmosphere with Words and Mass-Producing Songs

The interesting part of the program is that it doesn't just discuss the pros and cons of AI in abstract terms but actually "creates songs." According to the introduction, Harding himself creates a song, and the program side "destroys" it with prompts (i.e., drastically changes its direction). In essence, songwriting is shifting from just "playing or programming" to "verbalizing and throwing out the vibe." The Verge

In another article by Harding (a report referenced in the same program), the practical usage is even more specific. For example, it mentions using Suno to specify sound blueprints in detail with words like "warm modern country," "smoky female vocals," and "add emotion with pedal steel," for remixing or demo generation. Even if not perfect, it serves the purpose of "grasping the image of the finished form." The Verge

3. Why Country is at the "Forefront"—Nashville's Division of Labor and Speed

The production scene in Nashville operates through division of labor, involving songwriters, producers, studio musicians, and so-called "track guys." Harding's article introduces how Suno dramatically speeds up demo production and idea generation, allowing producers to propose multiple options by just adding "half-finished ideas." The Verge

Moreover, there is testimony that the roughness of the output can be acceptable for "demos played in the car," as traffic noise can mask the rough edges. This realistic account indicates that AI is reaching "practical use" in the field. The Verge

4. Jobs Trimmed Behind "Convenience": Demo Craftsmen and Future Talent Supply

On the other hand, AI's efficiency directly reduces "human jobs." Harding's article discusses the past world where one could earn a high income just from demo performances and the concern that the spread of Suno could threaten that income source. If the "farm team" for demo performances disappears, it creates a gap in future talent supply—a typical example of short-term cost reduction destroying the long-term creative foundation. The Verge

5. Rights, Ethics, and the "Sounds Too Similar" Issue: The More They Mix, the More Contentious

Even more troublesome are rights and ethics. Harding's article raises the question, "What is the protocol if an artist uses a lead line output by AI?" Additionally, AI's standalone outputs are difficult to protect, and the attribution of hybrid works tends to become ambiguous. There is also dissatisfaction about whether compensation to the learning sources is sufficient. The Verge

And the "most contentious minefield" is the resemblance of vocals. Harding's article also introduces reactions like "I don't like it when it sounds just like a friend." As AI accuracy improves, issues of imitation, misidentification, and impersonation become more pronounced. The Verge

6. The "I Run" Controversy Symbolizes AI Vocal Backlash in the SNS Era

Regarding the "song often played on TikTok" mentioned in The Vergecast's introduction, other reports provide a more concrete outline. According to the Washington Post, "I Run," which spread on TikTok, was suspected of resembling a specific artist's voice and was ultimately removed for violating the platform's "impersonation" policy. The Verge

Interestingly, the listener's psychology is not determined solely by the "quality of the song." The article introduces reactions where people initially liked the song but felt a strong aversion once they learned it was AI. The pros and cons of AI are strongly tied not only to auditory quality but also to "trust in the creator," "the feeling of being deceived," and "whether there is someone they want to support." The Washington Post

7. SNS Reactions: The Excitement is "Multilayered" Rather than "Polarized"

From here, let's organize the reactions observable on SNS (mainly Reddit, etc.) by point of discussion.

(A) "Country is AI's Forte" Group: The Compatibility of Aesthetic Beauty and "Authenticity"
In the Suno community, it's almost an "in-joke" that "Suno is particularly good at country" and "unintended Southern accents appear, so 'country' is included in negative specifications." The view is that the typical elements of country (chord progressions, narrative style, timbre) align well with the reproducibility of generation. Reddit

(B) "Everything Sounds the Same Now" Group: Sarcasm Towards Pre-AI "Standardization"
In another thread, in response to news about AI country trending on the charts, there is sarcasm like "Is AI even necessary when (modern) pop country is already standardized?" Rather than AI criticism, dissatisfaction with the industrialization of the genre is erupting, triggered by AI. Reddit

(C) "Cool Until I Knew It Was AI" Group: Experiential Value Equals Narrative
As with "I Run," there are cases where people enjoy a song while listening but their evaluation flips once they learn it's AI. This is evidence that it's not so much an "audio problem" as it is about "whose effort the song is perceived as," which influences the experiential value. The Washington Post

(D) "Drawing the Line is Impossible" Group: The Production Scene is Already "Full of AI"
In Suno threads, opinions like "AI must have been used much earlier, producers just don't say it" and "mixing and mastering tools also have AI elements" stand out, suggesting that it's not realistic to speak in black and white. The claim is that it's not practical to single out "composition" by generative AI as special. Reddit

(E) "Will I Be Criticized If I Release It? But I Was Saved" Group: Democratization of Creation and Community Friction
In response to the question "Will I get backlash if I release a song made with Suno?" practical advice like "If you make an effort to be unique, it will be accepted" and "Mass-released 'template AI songs' invite backlash" is returned, while strong rejection ("You're not an artist") also emerges.
However, the catharsis of a writer with no creative experience feeling "I was able to turn my words into a song" is also discussed, indicating that AI's role in increasing "new participants" cannot be ignored. Reddit

8. Is the Industry Moving from "Hostility" to "Institutionalization"?—Partnerships Indicate the Next Phase

Amid the confusion, the industry has two major paths forward: "exclude" or "manage and incorporate." The Verge reports that Warner Music Group has signed a licensing agreement with Suno, allowing the use of participating artists' voices and names on an "opt-in" basis. The shift from litigation to partnership is a sign that AI music is beginning to move toward institutionalization on the premise that it "won't disappear." The Verge

9. So How Should We Listen and Create?—Etiquette in the "AI Country Era"

The Vergecast poses the question, "How do we engage with music mixed with AI?" rather than "Is AI good or bad?" The Verge

As a realistic compromise, the following "etiquette" can be considered.

• For creators: If used for demo purposes (composition notes, arrangement ideas, checking nuances of temporary vocals), it can save time in the field. The Verge

• For publishers: The direction of "making vocals resemble someone" is particularly incendiary. If there is a possibility of misidentification, it is safer to design to avoid it from the start. The Washington Post

• For listeners: Rather than focusing on whether it's AI, consider (1) whether there is an intention to deceive, (2) how rights and credits are handled, and (3) what is interesting about the work as separate issues to advance the discussion.

Now that AI has learned the "Nashville air" and can produce songs that sound plausible from words, country has become the first genre to shake. But at the same time, it is also the genre that most clearly visualizes "where the value of music resides." The next "new song" to play on the radio—how much of it is human and how much is machine—we will probably discern it as a matter of course without realizing it. The Verge##HTML