Global Entanglements, Music and the Commodification of Cultural Labour in the Age of AI

Tom Willma; Oliver Bown

Global Entanglements, Music and the Commodification of Cultural Labour in the Age of AI
Image credit: Tom Willma; Oliver Bown

Abstract:

Motivated by global discussions of socio-technical change and recent Australian legislative lobbying, this short-form, 3-hour workshop targets the commodification of cultural labour and current entanglements between social, political, corporate and technological actors in the music industry. The objective of this workshop is to hold a critically minded discussion between guest panellists from the Australian music sector and NIME colleagues, grappling with these sociotechnical imperatives both generally, across the industry, and particularly, within the context of live performance. Key takeaways of this workshop include: • An empirical overview that survey’s sociotechnical change and AI use across global music industries • A critical discussion that scopes key political-economic concerns in the music sector • Proposed frames for NIME research community to engage with industry and develop key strategies for ethical AI adoption • Directions for future discourses, policy considerations and further dialogues of sociotechnical transformation in the music industry Discussions between panellists and attendees will be guided by three critical questions: 1) What political-economic changes have been taking place in global music cultures, including but not limited to those involving AI and live virtualisation technologies? 2) How does the NIME research community interface with music cultures beyond academia in an age of AI, particularly in the development of live music technologies? 3) What blind sports are being neglected by the current trajectory of political and industrial discourses? How is our work being affected, what voices are being heard above others and what could/should be done? Please note that the content of this workshop will be recorded and may be developed and referenced in future research and publications by the organisers, as may a record of workshop minutes be published.