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Mick Jagger: ‘If Someone Wants to Make Music by AI, Go Ahead, but It Has to Be Original’
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have voiced caution about artificial intelligence in music-making, telling Billboard that AI-generated songs are acceptable only if they involve genuine creative input rather than simply mimicking existing artists. Jagger said he did not want the Rolling Stones imitated vocally or instrumentally by AI, arguing that anyone truly creative would not use the technology to churn out songs "in the style of" the band, while Richards said he would rather hear original work than music that merely copies or synthesises what already exists.
Despite their reservations about AI, the pair embraced deepfake technology for the video accompanying "In the Stars", a track from their recent album Foreign Tongues, in which real musicians performed while their faces were digitally altered to resemble the Stones as they looked in 1968. Jagger described the process, including adjustments needed after an early version of Ronnie Wood's likeness looked more like Jeff Beck. In the same Billboard interview, Jagger praised Olivia Rodrigo's move into rock music, and Richards said he had not ruled out live Rolling Stones performances in 2027, though none have yet been announced around the new album.
In short
- Jagger and Richards say AI music is fine only if genuinely original
- Both criticise AI songs made simply "in the style of" artists
- They used deepfake tech for their "In the Stars" video, unlike AI music
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
AI can be a legitimate creative tool when musicians use it to develop genuinely original work, and the key concern should be whether the result adds something new rather than imitates an existing artist. Used transparently and with human musical judgement, the technology could expand how artists experiment and make music.
The case against
AI music that reproduces a band’s distinctive voice or sound risks turning their creative identity into material others can copy without meaningful artistic contribution. Protecting originality and the value of musicians’ work supports drawing a clear line between using AI as a tool and using it to imitate artists.
Explained simply
Artificial intelligence has increasingly been used in music-making, with software able to generate new songs by learning from existing music and artist styles. This has sparked debate within the music industry about how AI should be used and raised questions about authenticity and copyright. The technology's capacity to mimic or create music has made people question whether certain applications cross ethical or artistic lines.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are the primary songwriters of the Rolling Stones, one of the most influential rock bands in history with a catalogue spanning over six decades. The band has shaped global popular music, and both men have been central figures in rock music since the 1960s. Their perspectives on technological changes carry significant weight given their experience and cultural standing.
The central question in discussions about AI and music is whether it should be used to create genuinely original new work or whether it becomes problematic when used to mimic the distinctive sound and style of existing artists. Industry figures are trying to establish where boundaries should lie between using AI as a creative tool and using it to replicate what already exists. This distinction between original AI-assisted creation and imitation of existing styles is becoming increasingly important as the technology develops.