Musicians are embracing AI as a practical tool for production work, but they're drawing a firm line when it comes to letting algorithms generate music itself. A new survey of 1,200 US-based musicians who use products from Muse Group, the parent company of Ultimate Guitar, Hal Leonard, MuseScore, and Audacity, reveals nuanced attitudes toward artificial intelligence in music-making that challenge the narrative of wholesale AI adoption in the industry .

What Types of AI Are Musicians Actually Using?

The data shows a clear hierarchy of acceptance. While 78% of surveyed musicians said they are open to AI tools overall, and 70% are already using them in their music-making processes, the specific applications tell a different story . Musicians are comfortable with AI when it handles technical, non-creative tasks.

• Audio Cleanup: 54% use AI for noise removal and audio cleanup, the most popular application by far
• Idea Generation: 46% use AI for generating musical ideas and inspiration
• Stem Separation: 38% use AI to isolate individual instruments or vocal tracks from mixed recordings
• Pitch Correction: 35% rely on AI to automatically tune vocals and instruments
• Practice Support: 32% use AI tools to help with learning and rehearsal
• Transcription: 28% use AI to convert music into written notes or MIDI files

Why Do Musicians Reject Full Music Generation?

The resistance to AI-generated music is striking. Only 18% of surveyed musicians expressed openness to full music generation, and even then, only with what Muse Group describes as "guidance and full editability" . This means 82% are not open to AI creating complete compositions without human control. The distinction matters: musicians aren't rejecting AI outright, but they're rejecting the idea of AI as a replacement for human composition.

This boundary reflects a deeper concern about creative authorship and control. When AI handles mixing, remastering, or noise removal, the human musician retains creative ownership. When AI generates music from scratch, that ownership becomes ambiguous. The survey suggests musicians view these as fundamentally different propositions.

How to Navigate AI Tools as a Musician

• Leverage Production Tools: Use AI for technical tasks like noise removal, pitch correction, and stem separation to save time on non-creative work
• Maintain Creative Control: If you experiment with generative AI, ensure you have full editability and can guide the output toward your artistic vision
• Understand Your Boundaries: Be clear about which AI applications align with your creative philosophy and which ones compromise your artistic integrity
• Stay Informed on Permissions: Before using any AI tool, verify whether it trains on others' work without permission, a concern cited by 51% of respondents

Interestingly, the survey also uncovered a generational divide. Gen-Z musicians emerged as "the most skeptical and polarised group" when it comes to AI views, which contradicts the assumption that younger creators automatically embrace new technology . This suggests that skepticism about AI in music isn't simply a function of age, but rather reflects genuine concerns about creative autonomy and fair compensation.

The data also revealed surprising findings about copyright and consent. Only 41% of respondents explicitly reject training AI on others' work without permission, and just 40% reject copying artist styles without consent . This gap suggests that while musicians have clear boundaries on what they'll create with AI, they may be less unified on the ethical frameworks governing how AI systems are built in the first place.

The Muse Group survey arrives as the broader music industry grapples with how to integrate generative AI responsibly. Unlike the hype surrounding AI music platforms, this data from working musicians suggests the real story is more measured: AI is useful for specific, well-defined tasks, but the creative core of music-making remains firmly in human hands. The 82% rejection rate for full music generation isn't a rejection of AI itself, but a statement about what musicians value most: control, creativity, and the irreplaceable human element in composition.