Synths were once sold as a cheap orchestra replacement — generative vocal pop is repeating history
jasonbaldridge · x · 2026-10-10
A resurfaced observation drawing a parallel between music tech history and generative AI: the first synthesizer was marketed as a cheaper replacement for the orchestra, and generative models mass-producing vocal pop music will likely be remembered in much the same way.
The discussion quotes a pointed take: "if you erase the medium, all that's left is simulacra" — strip away the creative process and human touch, and generated output is a hollow copy.
The recurring debate: new mediums start as cheap imitations and eventually develop their own artistic legitimacy — whether generative music will follow that arc is the open question.
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