AI is reshaping the music landscape in ways that are both thrilling and daunting. On a recent episode of the Profitable Musician Show, Bree Noble and Tara Brueske dove deep into this transformative topic, bringing their perspective as Gen Xers who have seen technology evolve from the computer revolution to today’s AI boom. Their conversation, infused with humor, honesty, and practical advice, explored AI’s impact on musicianship, songwriting, business, and daily life.
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Navigating AI in Music: Bree and Tara’s Honest Chat on Technology and Creativity
The Controversy and Utility of AI in Music
AI in music is a hot-button issue—especially when it comes to authenticity. As Bree Noble pointed out, “I want to elevate human women, human female artists, human female-fronted bands.” For her platform, human artistry is non-negotiable. Still, she recognizes the convenience AI brings: “As a songwriter, it’s been so expensive for you to create demos, and it’s probably so freeing to be able to create these things and get your creation out there” .
But when it comes to AI-generated vocals, there’s skepticism. Tara Brueske, a voice teacher, noted a telltale sign: “The vocals, especially the female vocals that I’ve heard, they are so high, like they’re taking chest voice so incredibly high… that’s mostly not possible” . The human element—imperfections, dynamics, and quirks—often gets lost in AI’s algorithmic smoothness, resulting in performances that sound “in your face” and lack nuance.
AI as a Songwriting and Business Tool
Despite reservations about using AI for finished recordings, both hosts appreciate AI’s power as a creative assistant. From developing demo tracks to filling in instrumental parts you can’t play or afford, it’s a major time-saver and enabler—especially for songwriters and DIY musicians. Bree Noble elaborated:
“I do think it can be really helpful for generating ideas for songwriting…it just— I used to just like have to scour through the list…[AI] cuts that down” .
But, she cautions, there’s a spectrum: “There’s this whole conversation around AI-generated versus AI-assisted…AI-generated is literally where you like write a prompt and say, write a song about this… and it writes the whole thing, right?…[AI-assisted is] creating maybe some help with the instrumentals” .
AI as an Organizational and Marketing Asset
Outside of music creation, AI shines in administration, communication, and marketing. Tara Brueske shared her own workflow:
“Writing emails, especially to my people on my email list…a lot of times it’s like, what am I going to write about? …it’ll be that thing of like, I’ll put in, you know, can you give me some ideas?” .
She and Bree Noble use AI for resume writing, contract templates, and even worship planning. The latter built her own GPT tool, feeding it song lists, sermon topics, and specific instructions to streamline service preparations, a process that used to take hours: “I have been able to plan out like…three months of planning done…and I can do it all in one day” .
Authenticity and Caution
With all its benefits, AI is not a substitute for human creativity or brand. Both hosts caution against allowing AI to dilute your voice. “[It] can make you so vanilla…and take out little nuances or little things that you would say that only you would say” . That’s why Bree Noble urges musicians to develop “brand books and voice guardrails” before leaning on AI for content creation.
AI also demands an online presence. As search shifts from traditional Google to AI-driven queries, having a robust website matters more than ever: “We may think now, oh, now that AI is here, I don’t need a website. And I think that actually means you need a website more” .
Final Thoughts
AI can be a powerful ally for musicians—if approached thoughtfully. Used wisely, it can save time, generate fresh ideas, and streamline business—just don’t let it erase your unique artistic fingerprint.
