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AI Did Not Write This

AI Did Not Write This

DIY or Die

It sucks when a band you’ve admired disappoints you. In last week’s news round up, I mentioned LS Dunes announced a new music video that was generated using AI. Fans took to the comments, explaining why using AI is unethical (as those databases use stolen & unlicensed work) and that we’d hope the band would reconsider.

What happened next was a series of bad publicity moves. Any good publicist would be ROLLING at the chain of events that spiraled from there. The next day the band posted a non-apologetic explanation further defending their choice that entirely missed point of the concerns raised by fans. The day after that, the band dropped a merch line. And then finally the week ended with the video release.

All through this, fans - myself included - tried to raise concerns about how unethical AI usage is in art. I just have to laugh at the timing of all this - the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have been striking all summer to get protections in their contracts to prevent AI from taking their jobs. There are jobs in multiple industries and art disciplines on the line right now over this tech. It’s not a ‘boy who cried wolf’ situation - the wolves are already in the sheep pen.

I’m not sure what’s been worse this week - the band response or the blue-checkmark, reddit style folks defending the band.

The band’s “statement” was entirely dismissive of fans legitimate concerns about the use of AI for a band that claims it comes from the “DIY punk” scene. Not to mention things got worse when an antisemitic-rooted joke also came into play in the comments section. It was like a cold shower to remind me that these band members have all been in the game for 20+ years and operate in an echo-chamber of mostly white cis dudes that reinforce their own way of thinking.

And then several people in the comments have been quick to be misogynistic and rude, calling anyone who voiced concerns “whiny crybabies” and “karens.” And without band intervention on these types of comments, it almost felt like a silent agreement from the band. From first hand experience, I know a large part of the online fanbase is mostly queer people and women. And a large sector of this group of fans are artists themselves, personifying the “DIY” foundation that punk is based on. The events of this week has felt like this entire segment of the fanbase has been pushed aside in favor of the Elon-type dudebro ‘hardcore’ fans.

This week’s been incredibly frustrating at every angle with this situation, and I’ve definitely given it more of my attention and brainpower than I probably should. My publicity background has been going haywire, I’ve just been shaking my head thinking about all the crisis PR classes I took in college and how what happened this week with Dunes is a textbook example of all the things NOT to do.

The band’s reputation is damaged, they’ve alienated fans, and I have no desire to buy merch or go to one of their shows any time soon. And to think that all of this mess could have been avoided with an actual heartfelt response and a promise to do better next time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m a little heartbroken this week… but I’m going to take that and spit in the face of AI by continuing to create my own art.

Missed last week’s newsletter? Read it here

🖤 Elisa

IT’S NOT A PHASE

Things found on the interwebz this week:

The new Sum41 single is out! I’ve been dreading the album since they’ve already announced it’ll be their last, but the song’s catchy and I’m also really looking forward to hearing more → Spotify
Green Day posted a teaser on October 1st, maybe new music on the way? → NME
Evanescence announced their 20th anniversary box set for Fallen, with lots of bonus material → Twitter

NOSTALGIA BLAST

Y’all remember when Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood were in a Green Day video? One day I’ll write my essay here about how the 2000’s emo scene is entirely a response to 9/11, but I’ll save that for another time. The video speaks for itself.

DIARY ENTRY

Over the weekend I got the pleasure of going to Delusion, which is staged at the Phillips Mansion out in Pomona. This is my little salute to that gorgeous, gorgeous place.

CHEER UP EMO KID

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