FROM THE TOP HELMUTS BEMS I SONARWORKS
I’VE HEARD YOU’VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON AI IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE? DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A DISRUPTOR? Absolutely. The music industry has disruptions happen - ing every 10 years or so, and this is the current one. I also think it will be more transformative than any be - fore. It’s not all bad, there will be a lot of winners in this change. We have a saying in our culture: the one who changes, survives.
in just doing daily tasks in every function, from support to marketing and management. AI is going to disrupt every office job there is. I think we should all become experts working with AI systems or risk being left behind. I SAW SONARWORKS IS A FINALIST FOR THE 2025 WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANI- ZATION’S GLOBAL AWARDS. WHAT DOES THIS LARGE DISTINCTION MEAN TO YOU? We’re truly honored to be named a finalist in the 2025
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SHARE SOME OF THE FINDINGS OF YOUR AI RESEARCH? Yes, here are my top five predictions based on our AI research: 1. There will be an exponential boost in the amount of content pro - duced, and the cost associated with production will decrease. 2. Less revenue will be captured by the legacy music industry. Big tech could generate new music-related rev - enue, however, that money will not flow downstream to artists, labels and creatives as it used to.
WIPO Global Awards — especially among nearly 800 innovators from 95 countries. For us at Sonarworks, this recognition validates something we’ve believed in from the very be - ginning: that intellectual property is not just a legal asset, but a strategic foundation for innovation, growth and global impact. WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO SEE SONARWORKS GO IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? We have massive plans and a clear roadmap. We aim to unify and inte - grate studio sound experience into one ecosystem that is focused on the user. We also aim to become No. 1 in AI-assist tools for vocals. SWITCHING GEARS A BIT, WHAT’S THE LAST SONG OR
“WE HAVE MASSIVE PLANS AND A CLEAR ROADMAP. WE AIM TO BECOME NO. 1 IN AI-ASSIST TOOLS FOR VOCALS.”
3. The role of sound engineers may be challenged with more power in the hands of producers and composers who will be more self-sufficient. AI will boost the efficiency of those who will embrace it. 4. Commercial session musicians will be affected most as more output will be generated instead of recorded. 5. Music creation software will be dominated by AI tools and the demand for legacy software will decrease WOW, LOTS TO UNPACK THERE. HOW DO YOU THINK AI WILL INFLUENCE MUSIC WRITING AND COPYRIGHTS? This is the most complex aspect to predict going for - ward, as it will be more driven by political decision- making rather than the technology itself. On a very big picture level, it will probably become more difficult to track who owns what and who even made the content. I think this will put more power and profit in the hands of music delivery companies, however, the big question is if the end user will be willing to pay more or less for AI made music. HOW DO YOU USE AI AT SONARWORKS? First, AI is part of our core product technology. There is a significant amount of resources that go into develop - ment and research. However, we also use AI extensively
BAND YOU STREAMED? I listen to everything and usually in shuffle mode. So, there can be an American Indian flute followed by rock, and then followed by a pop song. I mostly like discover - ing new music, so I often listen to stuff I haven’t heard before. Since you asked, the last song I added to my liked songs list was: “Dean Town” by Vulfpeck. As I age, I notice myself leaning more into jazz. IF YOU WEREN’T WORKING IN THE MI INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE DOING FOR WORK? This is a very good question that I have also been asking myself from time to time. For one, I prefer sophis - ticated industries. In this regard, the music industry is probably among the most sophisticated ones. I love it. I do not think there is anyone who fully grasps this in - dustry. Too many different stakeholders with a complex interplay between them. Apart from the industry, I would most likely be managing 20–200 people, which is my sweet spot. If not for a managerial position, I would lean towards research. MI
26 I MUSIC INC. I JULY 2025
Powered by FlippingBook