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Mick Jagger Talks Olivia Rodrigo, AI Music
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards discussed Olivia Rodrigo's move into rock music and shared their views on artificial intelligence in songwriting, in separate interviews with Billboard timed to the release of the Rolling Stones' new album, Foreign Tongues. The comments matter as prominent legacy musicians increasingly weigh in on how AI is reshaping music creation, adding to a wider industry debate that has also drawn criticism from artists such as Robert Smith and Lorde.
Jagger praised Rodrigo's ability to shift from pop into rock, noting that several female singers have made similar transitions and calling the change "kind of interesting". On AI, Richards said he preferred original music over synthesised copies, while Jagger said he objected to AI being used to imitate the Rolling Stones' sound but did not oppose AI music in principle, provided it involved genuine creative input. Foreign Tongues, the band's 27th studio album, was released last week and features a Robert Smith collaboration on the track "Jealous Lover".
In short
- Jagger praises Olivia Rodrigo's shift from pop into rock music.
- Richards prefers original music over AI-generated copies.
- Jagger says AI imitating the Stones' sound is "obviously wrong".
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Artificial intelligence offers creative possibilities and need not be categorically rejected in music. As Jagger suggests, AI can contribute meaningfully to songwriting and production when it involves genuine human creative input and artistic vision, potentially expanding how artists work and democratising access to music-making tools. The technology itself is neutral; what matters is how artists choose to employ it as part of their creative practice.
The case against
The music industry should resist AI's encroachment on human creativity and professional musicians' livelihoods. Keith Richards's preference for original, human-made music reflects legitimate concerns about AI being misused to imitate established artists without consent or compensation, threatening both artistic integrity and economic security. Artists including Robert Smith and Lorde have articulated serious worries that AI undermines the distinctive human voice, labour, and skill that define professional musicianship and the value of an artist's identity.
Explained simply
The Rolling Stones are one of the world's most famous rock bands with a career spanning decades. In recent interviews with music publication Billboard, members of the band discussed Olivia Rodrigo, a younger pop-turned-rock artist, as well as their views on artificial intelligence being used in music creation.
Artificial intelligence in music is increasingly being discussed across the entertainment industry because new technology can now create or imitate songs without direct human involvement. Musicians and other artists are divided on whether this represents progress or a threat to their craft and livelihoods.
The Rolling Stones' views on these topics carry weight because they are respected figures in music who have influenced generations of artists. When established musicians publicly discuss AI and younger artists' career moves, it shapes the broader conversation about the future of music in the industry and among the public.
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