The Cost of AI Music Usage in the Film Production Process
Picture this: You’re just one message away from brushing shoulders with the film industry executive you’ve aspired to work with.
And then—boom!
You burn your bridge with an AI-generated piece of music during the best scene in your film.
Sure, it’s cost-effective, but incorporating AI music into your timeline to boost efficiency might do more damage than you think.
In 2019, a filmmaker experimented with OpenAI’s MuseNet to generate music for an indie film. Although the AI produced unique compositions, some tracks ended up being strikingly similar to existing pieces, leading to copyright claims when the film was submitted to festivals.
As a result, the filmmaker was forced to remove several scenes and re-score the film, affecting its release and increasing production costs.
So while prompts such as “Generate an avant-garde instrumental film score in the style of Louis Sterling—Adisceda” or “create a tense soundtrack reminiscent of Mica Levi or Geoff Barrow” might yield decent tracks, tools like Content ID—and even worse, a music lawyer—can expose every increment of the waveform.
Remember—this industry is all about leaving an impression and making authentic, meaningful connections. Don’t let a small, unintended resemblance lead to claims that jeopardise your production.
And who knows? Maybe our collaboration will lead to the next big thing.
“With his innate ability to capture the essence of emotions through music, Sterling brings an undeniable depth to the film’s atmosphere. His evocative compositions enrich the storytelling, amplifying the narrative’s impact. His skills as a composer make him an invaluable collaborator, contributing to the overall artistic vision of the project”
About the Author
Louis Sterling is a BBC Music-supported film music composer and post-production sound engineer based between Bristol and London. He is currently signed to the Berlin-based record label 99Chants.
