Sumerian Records founder Ash Avildsen is once again sounding the alarm — this time over the growing push for AI-generated music on streaming services and within major label ecosystems. While Avildsen has gone on to build a multimedia empire — spanning films, festivals, comics and more — his roots remain in heavy music, first as a member of Reflux and later as the industry force behind Sumerian Records.
Through that label he helped launch the careers of Asking Alexandria, Animals As Leaders, Bad Omens, and numerous others, while working with artists tied to Korn and Deftones along the way. Sumerian’s scope has expanded well beyond metal, but Avildsen’s stance on the importance of human-created music hasn’t changed.
Today (December 05th), Avildsen took to Instagram with a fiery message directed toward record companies and DSPs who are embracing AI-generated bands. He also hinted that he plans to roll out a new initiative early next year designed to counter that shift.
“We will not go quietly into the night as the corporate overlords once again marginalize and minimize the reward of human music.
The big three and big tech have all teamed up to usher in AI bands with open arms… They are not in the individual artist business. They are in the shareholder business.”
He went on to compare streaming royalty structures to a live show where human musicians are forced to split the payout with a computer that performed beforehand — a system designed to benefit corporations, not creators.
“There must be a velvet revolution of artists and labels that refuse to accept and comply with what the old guard is doing against our will.
A solution will be presented in January that begins a new era… It’s time to remind these opportunists.”
Alongside the post, Avildsen highlighted AI-created artists like Bleeding Verse, which have already accumulated significant monthly listener counts. That project previously caused controversy when Lucas Woodland, vocalist of Holding Absence, alleged that Bleeding Verse’s model was built by pulling from his band’s songs — only for the AI project to surpass Holding Absence’s listener numbers in a matter of weeks.
The concern extends far beyond bragging rights. While bands spend months or years writing and recording albums, AI tools can churn out new music in minutes — creating a flood of content that threatens to push real artists further down the algorithmic ladder.
Avildsen made one final challenge clear: tech companies and major label executives are welcome to debate him live on the crisis — but he’s drawing the battle lines now.
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