No Tags 52: Will the AI slopwave ruin music for good?
Aug 28, 2025
Dive into the chaotic world of AI-generated music, where slopwave threatens to dilute authenticity. The hosts delve into its effects on genres like country and lo-fi, questioning whether AI can truly create meaningful art. They humorously reflect on the cultural implications of hyperpop and Will Smith’s career, while examining the struggles of artists amidst a landscape increasingly driven by technology. With a new AI-generated theme song, they explore opportunities and pitfalls in this evolving musical realm.
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Episode notes
Will Smith Concert Video Example
- Tom recounts Will Smith's AI-inflated concert video and internet backlash over fake crowd reactions.
- The episode uses this as an early example of deceptive AI content seeding public spaces.
Slop Floods Niche Music Scenes
- AI-generated "slop" is flooding genres like lo-fi, city pop and country, undermining real artists' livelihoods.
- This mass production risks cultural erasure and a polluted historical archive of music.
The Velvet Sundown Playlisting Story
- Chal describes The Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated band that reached hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on Spotify.
- That case highlights how convincingly fake acts can infiltrate playlists and gain attention.