As AI’s encroachment on electronic music accelerates, H4RRIS is working to make sure the genre doesn’t lose its human-powered creative spark.Ad 0:00 Click for sound 0:00 / 0:00 The Nashville-based DJ and producer, whose real name is Max Harris, has launched a social media series calling out “artists” he believes are using artificial intelligence to fake their way into the dance music ecosystem and divert streams away from independent musicians.
An estimated $4.6 billion in annual artist revenue could be lost to AI-generated music by 2028, according to a recent economic study conducted by CISAC and PMP Strategy with participation from Deezer.Harris is not exactly yelling from the sidelines.
Inspired by trailblazers like Skrillex and Porter Robinson, he has been producing and releasing melodic, festival-friendly music since 2021.In recent weeks, he has used that production background to scrutinize a growing wave of creators promoting AI-generated EDM without disclosures.
His videos are part music-industry watchdog, part roast session and part warning shot to anyone trying to pass off synthetic shortcuts as human creativity.The first video in Harris’ series, posted July 6th, took aim at an alleged AI ripoff of Joel Corry and another creator he accused of stealing copyrighted music and altering it with AI.
The post garnered more than 6,000 likes, including one from Subtronics, and drew a blunt comment from Odd Mob: “It’s so funny cuz any moderately competent producer could make any of this generic garbage in 5 minutes and it would still sound better.” Another video focused on artists Harris accused of using AI-generated vocals instead of working with real singer-songwriters.When one commenter argued they can be useful because vocalists are often too expensive, Harris pushed back by encouraging artists to build relationships instead.
“It’s cutting out the creative process ...