A Deep Dive
The 7 Biggest Music Production and Songwriting News Stories of the Past Week
11/4/20244 min read


4. AI Mastering Tools Are Becoming a Production Standard
AI is taking on an increasingly vital role in music mastering, with tools like AIMS (Automatic Intelligent Mastering System) streamlining and enhancing the process. AI mastering platforms analyze individual tracks to optimize levels, EQ, and dynamics automatically, ensuring consistent, high-quality results while saving time and costs.
As AI mastering grows in popularity, these tools are making professional sound quality more accessible to independent musicians and producers. While some purists argue that AI cannot replace the nuance of human engineers, others see it as a powerful support tool, freeing up time for creative work and allowing for quick revisions and mastering on the fly.
5. Kanye West’s Stem Player Update Expands Remixing Capabilities
Kanye West’s Stem Player recently received a major update, allowing users to isolate stems, remix songs, and even create live soundscapes with real-time audio adjustments. This added flexibility gives users portable access to high-level production tools, essentially turning the Stem Player into a mobile studio. The player’s new features make it ideal for live performances, DJ sets, and even music education.
By enabling users to break down and manipulate songs, Kanye is championing a new model of music interaction that encourages remix culture and audience engagement. This innovation is pushing more artists and producers to embrace interactive music experiences, offering fans creative freedom over how they experience music.
6. Music Industry Embraces Sustainability with Green Touring Initiatives
Amid rising environmental concerns, the music industry is ramping up efforts to adopt sustainable practices. Coldplay’s ongoing eco-friendly tour serves as a high-profile example, featuring solar-powered stages, electric transportation, and biodegradable merchandise. Spotify, Amazon Music, and other streaming services are following suit by exploring carbon-neutral operations and partnerships with green energy providers.
These initiatives respond to the music community’s growing demand for environmentally responsible practices. As sustainability becomes a core part of brand identity, it is likely to encourage fans to engage with artists who prioritize ecological responsibility, reshaping concert experiences and encouraging a more conscious music ecosystem.
7. Genre Fusion and Deeply Personal Songwriting Trends of 2024
Music trends for 2024 show an increase in genre fusion and emotionally transparent songwriting. Artists are increasingly combining influences from Latin, Afrobeat, jazz, and EDM, creating fresh sounds and breaking genre boundaries. This genre blending allows artists to reach new audiences, as listeners seek diverse and unique musical experiences.
Meanwhile, themes of mental health, self-identity, and social issues are at the forefront of songwriting, with fans gravitating toward music that reflects authentic and vulnerable narratives. As streaming platforms highlight these trends through curated playlists, more artists are encouraged to explore introspective songwriting and experimental sounds, pushing music to be more relatable and genre-defying than ever before.
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With so many exciting advancements, from AI innovations to green initiatives and genre-bending trends, it’s an incredible time to be part of the music industry. Whether you're a producer, songwriter, or music enthusiast, staying updated on these trends can help you make informed decisions and stay inspired.
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The past week has been packed with pivotal developments in music production, from advancements in AI-powered tools to innovative approaches in artist promotion and songwriting camps. Here’s a detailed look at the biggest stories and their potential impact on the music industry.
1. Splice Launches Splice AI – The Next Big Thing in Sound Design
Splice AI, Splice’s latest tool, introduces text-to-sound capabilities to its renowned sample library. By generating samples based on user prompts, such as “dreamy pads” or “punchy bass,” Splice AI allows producers to get instant access to custom samples tailored to their needs, significantly speeding up the creative process. This is particularly valuable in electronic and hip-hop music production, where unique sounds are essential to standing out.
Beyond time savings, Splice AI represents a leap forward in democratizing sound creation, giving producers of all skill levels access to sounds traditionally developed through costly synthesizers or sample packs. As Splice pushes this technology, AI-driven creativity is likely to become more central to sound design across genres.
2. Warner Chappell Music’s Las Vegas Songwriting Camp Fosters Cross-Genre Collaborations
Warner Chappell Music hosted a large-scale global songwriting camp in Las Vegas, inviting over 300 artists, producers, and songwriters from diverse musical backgrounds. Attendees participated in genre-blending sessions, particularly focusing on hybrid styles like Latin pop-K-pop and Afrobeat-inspired pop. Warner’s camp also introduced new AI-driven songwriting tools, which assisted writers in generating lyrics, identifying chord progressions, and exploring new musical structures.
This camp represents Warner’s commitment to fostering creativity across cultural boundaries, encouraging artists to break genre conventions and reach broader audiences. The inclusion of AI songwriting tools provides artists with enhanced support, speeding up processes and encouraging experimentation while maintaining high levels of creativity.
3. TikTok’s SoundOn Expands Globally, Empowering Independent Artists
With SoundOn, TikTok now allows musicians worldwide to distribute music directly to streaming platforms while retaining full royalties for the first year. This service, initially launched in select regions, now covers major markets, giving independent artists direct distribution channels and a significant financial advantage. SoundOn also provides artists with valuable data and marketing tools, so they can gauge their audience reach and optimize their promotional efforts.
SoundOn’s global expansion comes at a time when independent artists are looking for more control over their music. TikTok, already a key player in music discovery, is now positioning itself as a full-service distribution platform, blurring the lines between social media and music production. For DIY musicians, this marks a pivotal shift in how they can achieve mainstream success without relying on traditional labels.