Composing with AI: what should we pay attention to?
Generative AI has had a major impact on the creative field in a short period of time. For composers, AI can be an inspiring tool—from sketching ideas to analysing musical structures. But the use of this technology also raises important legal, ethical and practical considerations. The Creative Coalition wrote a helpful article on this topic, and Nieuw Geneco has summarised the most important considerations and tips.
1. Copyright: when is something truly your work?
Copyright only arises when a person makes their own creative choices. Pure machine output without your creative input is legally vulnerable.
Practical tips:
Avoid prompts such as “create this in the style of [living composer]”—this may infringe copyright or lead to unwanted imitation.
Document your process: save prompts, versions and any of your own material that you have entered. This will demonstrate how your creative choices shaped the end result.
Protect your own work by using opt-out options if these are offered by platforms and datasets.
2. Confidentiality and privacy (GDPR)
AI systems are not a safe place for sensitive information.
Never enter:
contracts or financial data
personal data of performers, clients or colleagues
passwords and other security information
3. Hallucinations and errors
AI systems can generate convincing-sounding but incorrect information.
Recommendations:
Ask for sources, substantiation and uncertainties.
Build a structural human-in-the-loop: all content created with AI must be checked by a human.
Agree within projects on who will perform the final edit.
4. Bias and representation
AI models are trained on existing data and therefore also adopt existing biases.
What can you do?
Explicitly ask the tool to perform a bias check.
Generate multiple variants to prevent a single biased result from becoming the standard.
Be aware of the interests and ownership of the tool you are using.
5. Ecological footprint
AI consumes energy — especially large models.
Tips:
Use light, efficient models whenever possible.
Think in advance about the purpose of your use: does it really need to be AI, or could it be done differently?
Minimise the number of iterations and avoid unnecessary regeneration.
Rule of thumb: don’t share anything with an AI tool that you wouldn’t want to see on the internet.
Power and abuse: insights from AI expert Marleen Stikker
For composers, AI is not only a practical tool, but also a system that structurally influences our culture. In an interview with De Creatieve Coalitie, AI expert Marleen Stikker emphasises that generative AI is not neutral: models are built on cultural data and are therefore part of a broader power structure. According to Stikker, the discussion ultimately revolves around the question: who has control over meaning-making and the infrastructure on which our culture runs?
She warns that if creators do not take a stand, the definition of creativity and the conditions for artistic production will increasingly be determined by large technology companies. That is why she advocates public ownership and greater involvement of the arts and culture sector in the development of AI systems. Think of public or cooperative models, transparent datasets and governance structures in which creators have a real influence on the rules and objectives of the technology.
Stikker also identifies six dimensions against which AI should be assessed: who designs it, what goals it optimises, who owns it, how it is managed, what rules apply and whether it operates within planetary boundaries. These are precisely the areas where composers and other creators can make their voices heard. Not only to protect their own work, but also to contribute to a technological landscape in which cultural values, diversity and public interests are central.
Her message to the sector is clear: get organised, take ownership and help build. By acting collectively — for example, through opt-out initiatives, sector-wide agreements and involvement in public AI projects — creators can ensure that AI remains a tool that supports creative freedom rather than restricting it. That is why a strong, well-informed professional association is so important. Through organisations such as Nieuw Geneco, composers can join forces, share knowledge, influence policy together and work on a joint strategy for the future of AI in music. Membership means not only protection and support, but also actively contributing to the direction in which our sector is developing.