Who is behind the recent surge of AI generated country music? Charley Crockett believes it’s the country music business itself. It was last week when a music industry nightmare played out in real time. Last weekend, Whiskey Riff reported that the top song on Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart was a track titled “Walk My Walk,” by an artist called Breaking Rust, and why it should infuriate us all, both fans and artists alike. For those that don’t know, Breaking Rust is not only a terrible name for an artist… it’s not even a real artist at all. The song itself is actually credited to someone named Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, who has seemingly also created another “artist” called Defbeatsai, which posts nothing but raunchy AI-generated songs. At least when it comes to the Instagram page for Defbeatsai, it’s disclosed that the songs are AI-generated (I mean, AI is in the name of the artist). When it comes to the social media for Breaking Rust, that “artist” is described as “Outlaw Country” and “Soul Music for Us.” There’s no mention that Breaking Rust’s music has been created entirely by AI, and this song in particular is the one that rocketed to the top of the digital sales chart. It became one of the top stories in music this past week, with more AI acts jumping up the Billboard Country Digital Songs Sales Chart, and our own Aaron Ryan was invited to discuss the travesty with NPR. Now, let’s remember… in the age of streaming, digital sales is is a relatively small part of the music industry, and you’re certainly not gonna hear Breaking Rust on country radio (they sound more like soulful, southern rock anyways). But that’s not the point is it? Breaking Rust has 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and while it’s unclear if there is any bot activity going on there, that’s A LOT of monthly listeners. Pretty scary stuff, eh? And it’s something that’s got everyone in the country music industry talking. Even country music star, Charley Crockett, gave his two cents on the matter (can we still say two cents if they aren’t making pennies anymore?), and posted a picture with a long caption explaining his theory on who is behind the AI-generated music. The most likely explanation is that someone off in another country is churning these songs out and posting them online as if they are actual artists, and then potentially running bot farms to pump up listens. I’m sure that is happening in some capacity, and Spotify also claims they’re actively working against artificial listens activity, but what they need to do is immediately slap AI-generated music with an “AI-Generated” badge… just for transparency’s sake. Same with Billboard when it comes to their charting. We reached out to Billboard for comment and haven’t heard back yet. The Surge Of AI Music An Inside Job? Charley Crockett thinks it could all actually be an inside job, and that business men in the music industry are working to cut out artists: Here’s what he said about the matter: “AI ain’t nothin but a business man. They’ve been playing money guitar out here for years which ain’t done nothin but speed up the revolution. I never claimed to be more authentic than anybody else, only defended myself against those who felt threatened by my existence in this game. That’s a fact jack. You can’t stop what’s coming. And the more you try the faster it comes.” So basically, Crockett thinks some music executives could be the one cranking these songs out. And hey, it makes sense… I’m sure some industry executives would love to profit off an artist they don’t have to pay for. Or as much for… but it’s already happening. AI artist, Xania Monet, who is made by AI music creator, I’m Oliver, on the platform Suno, signed a $3 million dollar record deal with Hallwood Media. All that being said, the “Son of Davy” went on to compare the situation to street performers and the thought that they’d go extinct. He doesn’t think actual, real artists will go into that dark night without a fight. But Crockett does see the concern of it all, and thinks it’s just another way that the music business is trying to ruin the music itself: “I drive around Austin and it’s AI this and AI that. Always wondered why there was a bite missing out of the apple on my iPhone. These avatars are just no count business men cutting out artists. But that’s happening to Americans in every part of our lives. I remember reading this fancy article once about how street performers would become extinct within just a few years because modern society didn’t need us. It was written in 1960. I say come on with it. Country music ain’t what it used to be but nothin is. One day they’ll be talking about what we did right now. Y’all lemme know when AI goes to jail.” View this post on Instagram The post Charley Crockett Says The Music Business Is Behind Surge In AI-Generated Songs: “No Count Business Men Cutting Out Artists” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

A tragic end. Yesterday it was announced that country/folk singer and songwriter Todd Snider was admitted to the hospital for a previously undiagnosed case of walking pneumonia. From the way the announcement from Todd Snider’s friends and family sounded, it seemed like a more serious case: “Hello friends, family, and members of the Shithouse Choir. We have some difficult news to share. After Todd returned home to recover last week, he began having trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital in Hendersonville, TN. We learned from his doctors that he had been quietly suffering from an undiagnosed case of walking pneumonia. Our beloved brother’s condition has become more complicated, and he’s since been transferred for additional treatment. His care team and those closest to him are by his side and doing everything they can. Right now we’re asking everyone who loves Todd to hold him in your thoughts in whatever way feels right to you. Say a prayer, light a candle, roll one up, send strength, or just keep him close in your heart. You’ve carried him through so much over the years, and he needs that from all of us now more than ever. We’ll share more when there is more to tell. Thank you for surrounding him with so much love, support, and compassion.” View this post on Instagram And unfortunately, this morning it was announced that Snider has passed away: “Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, our Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world. Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases? Always creating rhyme and meter that immediately felt like an old friend or a favorite blanket. Someone who could almost always find the humor in this crazy ride on Planet Earth. He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens. He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker. How do we move forward without the one who gave us countless 90 minute distractions from our impending doom? The one who always had 18 minutes to share a story. We’ll do it by carrying his stories and songs that contain messages of love, compassion, and peace with us. Today, put on one of your favorite Todd Snider records and “play it loud enough to wake up all of your neighbors or at least loud enough to always wake yourself up.” We love you Todd, sail on old friend, we’ll see you again out there on the road somewhere down the line. You will always be a force of nature.” Snider’s death comes at the end of a tumultuous few weeks that saw the singer arrested after reports that he was “violently attacked” outside of a Salt Lake City hotel before becoming combative and disruptive at the hospital. He had also announced the cancelation of the rest of his High, Lonesome and Then Some Tour following the incident. Snider released well over a dozen albums over the course of his 30-year music career, and was even at one point a member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He was 59 years old. Just a terribly tragic end to a brilliant life and career.The post Todd Snider Passes Away At The Age Of 59 Following Battle With Pneumonia first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Scott Jennings was on CNN last night and destroyed a liberal on CNN screeching about Jeffrey Epstein and President Trump. Watch below:

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