MAKING MUSIC IS HARD. WHY BOTHER?

Hey Friends,

Back in January of this year, a CEO just told the world that making music "isn't really enjoyable." That it's too hard, takes too long, and most people hate the process anyway. His solution? Let AI do it instead.

Meet Mikey Shulman, CEO of Suno Music, who dropped this bomb earlier this year: "It's not really enjoyable to make music now. It takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of practice... I think the majority of people don't enjoy the majority of the time they spend making music."

Friends, the first time I heard this I was leaning back in my chair after a session writing a new track idea and I've got to tell you, I was genuinely shocked, seriously!! Did this guy actually say this - Yup 😤

The Machine in the Room

Here's what Mikey's really saying: Why spend years learning when you can type some clever text and get AI to spit out your next banger? Hell, if you can't even think of what to write, AI will give you the prompt too.

I get it. I really do. In a world where you can upload an AI-generated track to Spotify before you've even opened your DAW, why bother with the blood, sweat, and tears of learning how to make music?

But here's the thing that keeps me up at night: If we're not careful, we're going to lose something precious. Forever.

Why I Can't Let This Slide

I can clearly remember walking into Space, Ibiza and hearing one of my tracks being played by another DJ on a massive sound system. I could be just another face in the crowd, blending in, watching people experience music I had made - music that had taken me days, weeks, months to make. Worth it? You better bloody believe it!! It was a beautiful moment I'll never forget and made the 'why bother making music' argument disappear forever.

Over four decades of making music, I've learned something Mikey missed completely: The struggle IS the point.

Those countless hours learning your DAW, instruments, plugins? The frustration when nothing sounds right? The patience required to push through? That's not a bug – it's the feature.

The Truth About Mastery

There are only 12 notes in music. Simple, right? But making good music? That's infinity times eternity worth of combinations. And for beginners, every combination sounds rubbish.

Here's what I know: Everything worth doing is hard at first. The things that challenge us, that we develop passion for, that truly fulfill us – they all demand time, energy, persistence. Robert Greene nailed this in his book "Mastery" – true fulfillment comes from the journey of becoming skilled, not from shortcuts.

One skill rarely mentioned in mastering anything? Patience. Lots of it.

When you're starting out in electronic music, it usually feels like every combination you choose sounds a bit rubbish. Where are all those great combinations hiding? Only years of exploring will begin to reveal them. And please, don't fall into the "perfect kick sample" trap – spending hours hunting for that one magical sample instead of just making music with what you have.

It's like exercise. When you start, your muscles burn, your lungs scream, and every fiber shouts "STOP!" Most people do stop. But the ones who push through? Something magical happens. One day, mid-workout, that inner voice starts shouting "GO! GO! GO!"

I can clearly remember the day like it was yesterday when I finally got something to sound the way I wanted it to. It was a real milestone that suddenly wiped away all the frustration and struggles that happened before that moment - like they never existed.

That breakthrough moment with music? There's nothing like it.

What We're Really Fighting For

Making music isn't just about the end result – it's about what the process does to us. Research shows that music-making literally rewires our brains for the better. It reduces anxiety and depression, improves cognitive function, and even strengthens our immune system. Playing music releases endorphins – natural mood boosters that no AI prompt can trigger.

But beyond the science, there's something deeply spiritual about creating music. It's meditation in motion, a way to process emotions we can't put into words. And when you share your music in person? That connection with fellow humans – seeing them nod along, feeling the energy shift in the room – nothing else comes close.

And yes, it's playful and fun! But only if you know how to do it. If you don't, it's frustrating – which is exactly why people are turning to AI.

But AI isn't the solution. Learning is.

The more you practice, the more fun it becomes. The more fun it becomes, the more you want to practice. It's a beautiful cycle that Mikey's company wants to short-circuit.

A Different Kind of AI Future

Now, before you think I'm some anti-technology dinosaur, let me be clear: I'm not against AI in music. In fact, I'm working on MUSIC AI tools myself. But here's the crucial difference – collaboration, not replacement. They're not instead of, they're as well as.

AI tools that help you learn, that suggest chord progressions when you're stuck, that help you understand music theory faster? Brilliant. AI that works alongside your creativity to enhance what you're already building? I'm all for it.

But AI that replaces the entire creative process? That's like having a robot run your marathon for you. Sure, you'll get a time, but what exactly did you accomplish?

The key is integration with traditional learning, not substitution for it. Use AI to accelerate your journey, not to skip it entirely.

The Question That Matters

So here we are at the crossroads. You can take Mikey's blue pill – let the machines do the work, skip the struggle, get instant gratification.

Or you can take the red pill – embrace the journey, trust the process, and discover what you're truly capable of creating.

Because here's what I believe with every fiber of my being: Music is uniquely human. Despite all our technological evolution – better instruments, recording technology, computers, software – the core challenge and reward of musical expression has remained beautifully, stubbornly the same.

Until now.

My Wish for You

I want you to experience that post-breakthrough joy. I want you to know what it feels like when the music flowing out of you is truly yours. When you've earned every note through dedication and persistence.

That feeling? No AI can generate it for you.

So I'm asking you to trust yourself. Trust the journey.

Yes, it's hard. Yes, it takes time. But if you give up before the breakthrough, you'll never know what you're capable of. And the world will never hear what only you can create.

Blue pill or red pill – you decide.

My only wish is for others to truly experience the joy music can bring, for current and future generations to be able to experience the same way I am grateful I have been able to. To the music educators amongst us – let's keep the good fight alive, accept the responsibility and burden to carry the baton on.

Keep on creating,
Heath

What's your take? Are we losing something essential, or am I just an old-school romantic? Hit reply and let me know where you stand in this brave new world.