Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am has weighed in on the ongoing debate about the influence of AI and TikTok on the music industry, arguing that the short-video platform has had a far greater impact than artificial intelligence.
TikTok’s Game-Changing Influence
Speaking to Sky News, Will.i.am claimed that TikTok has completely reshaped how fans consume music and how record labels scout talent.
“I don’t think anything can water down our industry any more than TikTok has.”
He pointed out that the traditional three-minute song format has been drastically shortened to fit the app’s viral-friendly structure.
“We used to listen to three-minute songs, now we’re down to nine seconds … TikTok and that algorithm changes what record companies are looking for, changes the architecture of the song … it’s watered down.”
With TikTok’s algorithm prioritizing short, catchy clips over full-length tracks, artists and producers are now crafting music specifically for virality, rather than for traditional radio play or album storytelling.
AI’s Role in Music: A Lesser Threat?
While Will.i.am downplayed AI’s influence, Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill shared a different concern—he finds AI’s growing role in music “scary.”
The 43-year-old musician admitted he’s uneasy about AI’s potential to replicate or even replace human creativity.
“I am scared of it though, I think, maybe, a little bit. I’ve seen some stuff that makes me a little nervous.”
However, he also joked that AI wouldn’t be necessary to mimic Kings of Leon’s sound, saying:
“As far as music, it doesn’t take AI to sound like us, my god.
We’re still learning how to play, so our skill level is still very much achievable by just human beings.”
The Bigger Debate: TikTok vs. AI
While AI-generated music has been a hot topic—especially with deepfake vocals and machine-generated compositions—Will.i.am’s comments suggest that social media platforms like TikTok have done more to reshape the music landscape.
With TikTok’s algorithm-driven music discovery, artists are now writing for trends, labels are signing based on virality, and songs are getting shorter to fit the platform’s fast-paced content style.
What’s Next?
As AI technology continues to evolve and TikTok remains dominant, the future of music creation and consumption is still up for debate.
Do you think AI or TikTok has had a bigger impact on the music industry? Drop your thoughts below!
