Music Inc Magazine May 2024

EMBRACING THE FUTURE:

AS AI CONTINUES TO ADVANCE ON A NEAR-DAILY BASIS, MI RETAILERS AND AUDIO SOFTWARE BRANDS ARE TURNING TO THE TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT, MARKETING ASSISTANCE AND PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT. — By Kimberly Kapela

T he advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the MI industry has ignited passionate debates. As it has in nearly every indus- try, AI has reshaped perspectives on revolutionizing the MI customer experience. This new wave has triggered an assortment of opinions,

INNOVATING MI RETAILING WITH AI In a music store’s showroom, AI has the ability to reshape the way a store’s instruments are marketed and sold through recommended systems that analyze consumer prefer-

with some business owners embracing the potential of AI as a transforma- tive force that can improve efficiency, while others remain skeptical and dismiss its ability to provide quality chat-bot communication. For those who advocate for AI’s integration, the excitement lies in keep- ing up with customer relationships and elevating a business’ content creation. This collaborative opportunity between retailers

ences and user behavior to suggest gear tailored to end-users’ tastes. Jeff Bertrand , president of Ber- trand’s Music in San Diego, is in the early stages of incorporating AI into his business and reported the store has improved communication with its customers. In the last year, Bertrand’s Music added Blustream, an AI-powered interactive personal messaging system, for communication with its rental customers. After

a rental purchase, Blustream asks customers about their experience and, in the weeks following their visit, suggests lessons and accessories that could help en- hance the student or player’s musical journey. “We want to get ahead of the commu- nication and want to help guide our customers to have M

and AI can be seen as a symbiotic relationship, where technology enhances human expression rather than replacing it. Alternatively, some retailers have questioned the authenticity of AI-generated content, arguing true connections and creativity emerges from human experiences and emotions that machines can- not replicate.

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