AI Explored Podcast: Episode Summary

Title: AI Music for Business: How to Get Started
Host: Michael Stelzner
Guest: Dan Sanchez, AI Strategist and Senior AI Marketing Strategist at Social Media Examiner
Release Date: January 21, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of AI Explored, host Michael Stelzner delves into the innovative realm of AI-generated music and its transformative potential for businesses, marketers, creators, and entrepreneurs. Joined by Dan Sanchez, an AI strategist and senior AI marketing strategist at Social Media Examiner, the discussion unpacks how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way music is utilized in marketing strategies.

The Intersection of Music and Marketing

[02:45] Dan Sanchez:
"Music and marketing have been intertwined for over a century, with jingles in radio and TV ads helping brands connect emotionally with their audiences. AI now democratizes access to this powerful medium, allowing marketers without musical backgrounds to craft personalized and impactful musical content."

Dan emphasizes the longstanding relationship between music and marketing, highlighting how AI makes music creation accessible to those without traditional musical expertise. This accessibility enables marketers to forge deeper emotional connections with their audiences, a critical component in influencing purchasing decisions.

[04:09] Michael Stelzner:
"Marketers might have previously avoided music due to perceived barriers like cost and licensing fees. AI music breaks down these barriers, offering affordable and customizable solutions for integrating music into various marketing channels."

Michael adds that AI addresses common hurdles such as expense and licensing complexities, making it easier for marketers to incorporate music into their campaigns seamlessly.

Applications of AI-Generated Music

Dan outlines several key applications of AI music in business:

1. Royalty-Free Background Music:
   [04:37] Dan Sanchez:
   "With AI music, the possibilities are nearly endless. You can generate a vast array of royalty-free tracks tailored to specific genres, rhythms, and moods, perfect for enhancing video content, social media posts, and podcasts."

2. Original Songs and Jingles:
   Creating unique songs or jingles that resonate with specific audiences or align with brand identity becomes feasible without the need for professional musicians. This customization allows for the development of signature sounds that can enhance brand recognition.

3. Audio Branding:
   [05:30] Dan Sanchez:
   "Big corporations have long utilized audio branding, curating specific soundtracks for their stores or advertisements. AI music brings this capability to smaller marketers, enabling them to develop consistent auditory identities without hefty budgets."

4. Enhanced User Experience (UX):
   Incorporating subtle musical elements into websites, apps, or customer interactions—such as sounds for loading screens, error messages, or confirmations—can elevate the overall user experience and engage customers in novel ways.

Tools for Creating AI-Generated Music

The episode delves into practical tools that facilitate AI music creation:

1. ChatGPT for Lyrics:
   [10:42] Dan Sanchez:
   "For crafting lyrics, tools like ChatGPT are indispensable. Whether you use the free or paid versions, ChatGPT can help generate creative and contextually relevant lyrics tailored to your marketing narrative."

   Dan explains that ChatGPT can assist in writing lyrics by providing iterations and refinements based on detailed prompts, enhancing the storytelling aspect of marketing content.

2. Suno and Udio for Music Production:
   [11:04] Dan Sanchez:
   "Suno is my go-to tool for generating music. By inputting lyrics and specifying the desired musical style, Suno can produce multiple tracks that align with your creative vision. Udio is another promising platform, offering similar capabilities."

   These platforms allow users to generate instrumental tracks and vocal arrangements by simply describing the desired genre, mood, and specific musical elements. Dan highlights the affordability and scalability of these tools, making them accessible for small businesses and individual marketers.

Demonstration: Creating a Marketing Song

During the episode, Dan showcases the creation of an AI-generated song tailored for marketing purposes:

[28:34] Michael Stelzner:
“The alarm rings softly... I'm running on coffee...”

The song, crafted entirely by AI, exemplifies how marketers can produce personalized content in a matter of hours. Dan outlines the process:

1. Generating Lyrics with ChatGPT:
   By providing detailed prompts about a typical day of a social media manager balancing professional and personal responsibilities, ChatGPT aids in developing relatable and engaging lyrics.

2. Creating Music with Suno:
   Inputting the refined lyrics into Suno, along with specific musical style preferences (e.g., pop folk, soft female vocals), results in a polished track ready for use in marketing campaigns.

[30:36] Michael Stelzner:
"That's pretty freaking cool."

The demonstration underscores the efficiency and creativity AI tools bring to marketing, allowing for rapid production of high-quality musical content without the logistical challenges of traditional music creation.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite the advancements, Dan acknowledges several challenges associated with AI-generated music:

1. Consistency and Quality:
   [30:50] Dan Sanchez:
   "While AI music is increasingly listenable and fun, there's still a digitalness to it. Issues like varying consistency and occasional auditory noise persist, though continuous improvements are being made."

2. Creative Variability:
   AI tools often produce different outcomes even with identical prompts, leading to a need for multiple iterations to achieve the desired result. This creative variability can be both a strength and a hurdle, offering diverse options but requiring additional time for selection.

3. Commercial Licensing and Legal Considerations:
   [40:21] Dan Sanchez:
   "If you're using tools like Suno with a paid account, you obtain commercial licenses allowing you to monetize and distribute the music. However, the legal landscape is evolving, and it's crucial to stay informed about licensing agreements and potential legal disputes in the AI music domain."

   Dan advises caution regarding the commercial use of AI-generated music, noting ongoing legal battles between AI companies and music publishers. Businesses must ensure they comply with licensing terms to avoid legal repercussions.

Use Cases and Future Potential

AI-generated music opens numerous avenues for creative marketing strategies:

1. Seasonal and Thematic Campaigns:
   Marketers can create songs aligned with holidays, industry events, or thematic moments, adding a unique auditory layer to their campaigns.

2. Social Media Engagement:
   Original songs and jingles can enhance social media posts, making them more memorable and shareable. For example, catchy tunes can drive engagement during marketing pushes or product launches.

3. Enhanced Storytelling:
   Integrating music into narrative-driven content, such as video ads or podcasts, can amplify emotional resonance and audience connection.

4. Innovative Advertising Formats:
   Utilizing AI-generated music in advertisements, complete with personalized lyrics or tailored soundtracks, offers a novel approach to capturing audience attention.

[22:14] Dan Sanchez:
"I’m working on a rap battle between ChatGPT and Claude to promote the AI Society. It’s an exciting way to showcase AI’s capabilities in creating dynamic and engaging content."

Dan's upcoming projects highlight the potential for AI music to drive engagement and showcase the versatility of AI tools in creating interactive and entertaining content.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with key takeaways on the transformative impact of AI-generated music in marketing:

• Accessibility: AI democratizes music creation, enabling marketers of all backgrounds to leverage music in their strategies without significant financial or technical barriers.

• Customization: AI tools offer unparalleled customization, allowing for the creation of personalized, brand-aligned musical content that resonates with specific audiences.

• Efficiency: The rapid production capabilities of AI music tools significantly reduce the time and resources traditionally required for music creation, facilitating agile and responsive marketing efforts.

[43:02] Michael Stelzner:
"The AI Explored Podcast is a production of Social Media Examiner. If you're serious about learning more about AI and marketing, I'll see you at Social Media Marketing World 2025."

While the episode wraps up, it underscores the ongoing evolution of AI in marketing and the importance of staying ahead of technological advancements to harness their full potential.

Notable Quotes

• Dan Sanchez [02:45]:
  "Music and marketing have been intertwined for over a century... AI now democratizes access to this powerful medium."

• Michael Stelzner [04:09]:
  "AI music breaks down barriers like cost and licensing, making it easier for marketers to incorporate music seamlessly."

• Dan Sanchez [10:42]:
  "Tools like ChatGPT are indispensable for crafting creative and contextually relevant lyrics."

• Michael Stelzner [30:35]:
  "That's pretty freaking cool."

• Dan Sanchez [40:21]:
  "With a paid account, you obtain commercial licenses allowing you to monetize and distribute the music."

Connect with Dan Sanchez

For listeners interested in exploring AI music further or seeking personalized strategies, Dan Sanchez is active on LinkedIn. Engage with his content and discover more about leveraging AI in your marketing endeavors.

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