IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

AI generated music barred from Bandcamp

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Here are the 8 most prevalent themes from the Hacker News discussion on Bandcamp's AI music policy:

1. AI as a Tool vs. Slop

Many argue that AI should be viewed as a tool to assist human creativity rather than a replacement, with the quality of human input being key.

"Purely AI anything is garbage. But AI tools in the hands of people who know what they're doing are just faster scaffolding and better plywood to build with." - echelon

2. The Irreplaceable Human Element

A strong sentiment holds that art requires human experience, intent, and "soul" to be meaningful, which machines inherently lack.

"With AI art... there is no passion, there is no pain, there is no emotion, there is no sex, there is no feeling..." - owenversteeg

3. AI Detection and Quality

Discussion centers on identifying AI music, noting current technical flaws but acknowledging the difficulty in detection as the technology rapidly improves.

"It's getting very hard. At this point, lyrics are the biggest giveaway. AI generated lyrics are always awful and the delivery feels very stilted." - spcebar

4. Platform Integrity and Flooding

There is consensus that platforms must filter AI-generated content to prevent low-effort slop from overwhelming genuine artists and degrading the user experience.

"Every major platform needs to also do this. They've all become overrun with literal trash." - mapontosevenths

5. The Practical Case for Bandcamp

Support for the policy is often rooted in Bandcamp’s role as a curated space for direct artist support, which is threatened by unlimited AI content.

"The fundamental scam is: ... 'made with care' is a fairly intangible property ... Virtual venues exist basically to offer up that claim of trusted provenance." - munificent

6. Skepticism of Detection Methods

Many users doubt the feasibility of reliable AI detection at scale, arguing it will lead to a cat-and-mouse game or false positives in certain genres.

"I can think of half a dozen ways to detect AI music in it's current form... I suspect you're right and it will have to work a bit like spam detection." - mapontosevenths

7. The Financial Threat to Artists

A recurring theme is the economic danger AI poses to human creators, particularly the potential for royalty diversion and market saturation.

"It's getting very hard. At this point, lyrics are the biggest giveaway. AI generated lyrics are always awful and the delivery feels very stilted." - spcebar

8. A Shift Away from Streaming

The AI issue is driving a renewed interest in owning music (via physical media or Bandcamp) as a reaction against the "slop" prevalent on algorithmic streaming platforms.

"Spotify's promotion of AI music bothered me so much that it has actually pushed me to Bandcamp and the practice of buying music again." - olivierestsage

🚀 Project Ideas

AI Audio Watermarking & Detection Service

Summary

  • A browser-based tool that analyzes uploaded audio tracks for the statistical artifacts and "fingerprint" signatures of current AI music generators (Suno, Udio, etc.).
  • Provides a public "watermark" detector for consumers and a private API for platforms like Bandcamp or Spotify to verify submissions, addressing the frustration of "AI slop" flooding music platforms.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Music platforms (Bandcamp, Spotify), A&R scouts, journalists, and concerned listeners.
Core Feature Real-time audio analysis identifying spectral flatness, rhythm inconsistencies, and specific generative artifacts.
Tech Stack Python (Librosa, NumPy), WebAssembly for client-side processing, FastAPI backend.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium API usage (free tier for low volume, paid tiers for platforms/integrations).

Notes

  • Users expressed a clear need for detection: "I can think of half a dozen ways to detect AI music in its current form" and "The most obvious tell, IMO, is the cadence of the lyrics."
  • This tool provides the technical verification layer that platforms currently lack, enabling the enforcement of policies like Bandcamp's.

Human-in-the-Loop AI Composition Studio

Summary

  • A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) plugin that acts as a creative collaborator rather than a replacement. It generates stems (drums, bass lines) based on the user's input, but requires the user to arrange, mix, and master the final track.
  • It enforces a workflow where the AI is a "scaffold" or "better plywood" (as mentioned by echelon), ensuring the final output requires significant human taste and labor.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Amateur and semi-professional musicians using tools like Ableton or Logic Pro.
Core Feature Generative stems that are strictly isolated (dry/wet) and compatible with traditional mixing workflows; tracks all AI usage for transparency.
Tech Stack C++ (JUCE framework) for VST/AU plugin, Python backend for generative models.
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: One-time purchase ($50-$100) or subscription for plugin + model updates.

Notes

  • Addresses the nuance in the discussion: "Purely AI anything is garbage. But AI tools in the hands of people who know what they're doing are just faster scaffolding."
  • Allows artists to use AI assistance without flooding platforms with "low effort attempts," satisfying the need for quality control and authenticity.

Provenance-Verified Music Marketplace

Summary

  • A strict marketplace platform that only hosts music where the artist can cryptographically verify their identity and the "human-ness" of their creation.
  • Inspired by the discussion regarding "trust tracking systems" and the desire for venues that maintain integrity, this platform uses a "verified human" badge system similar to how artists sign physical vinyl or certificates of authenticity.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Serious music collectors and artists who value human authenticity over algorithmic discovery.
Core Feature Identity verification (ID upload + biometric check) + optional "creation process" upload (stems/project files) to prove human labor.
Tech Stack Next.js, Node.js, Blockchain/NFTs (optional for digital ownership), Stripe Connect for payments.
Difficulty Medium (Logistical heavy lift on verification)
Monetization Revenue-ready: Commission on sales (lower than Bandcamp, e.g., 5%) + premium verification badges.

Notes

  • Directly addresses the sentiment: "I wonder why the head honchos of the music industry haven’t come together and put together an alternative to Spotify’s increasingly AI-slop platform."
  • Solves the "fake meaning" problem highlighted by users, ensuring the money goes directly to the creator, not a "ghost artist" or AI generator.

"Slop" Free Discovery Engine

Summary

  • A Spotify/YouTube Music wrapper application that aggressively filters out AI-generated music based on user reports and spectral analysis.
  • Users can connect their existing streaming accounts, and the engine automatically removes tracks flagged as AI, allowing for a "clean" listening experience without changing platforms entirely.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Dissatisfied Spotify/Apple Music users who want better curation without leaving their library.
Core Feature API integration with streaming services + user-curated blocklists (similar to browser ad blockers).
Tech Stack React Native (Mobile App), Node.js (Middleware), Audio fingerprinting libraries.
Difficulty Low-Medium
Monetization Hobby (Open Source) or Revenue-ready: $2.99/month subscription for the filtering service.

Notes

  • Responds to user complaints: "Spotify seems to have a 'this sucker will listen to the cheap stuff' flag and now I'm drowning in tracks from people who paid for Suno."
  • Empowers the user to curate their own feed, addressing the frustration with algorithms pushing "YouTube slop" equivalents in music.

"Human-Crafted" Certifier for Digital Goods

Summary

  • A verification widget and badge system for platforms like Etsy or eBay that specifically combats the "3D printer slop" and "AliExpress resale" issues discussed.
  • Sellers submit proof of the handmade process (video of assembly, source files), and the platform grants a "Human Verified" badge that appears in search results, filtering out mass-produced items.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Online marketplaces (Etsy, eBay) and sellers of handmade goods.
Core Feature Video verification of creation process, supply chain transparency for materials.
Tech Stack Python (OpenCV for video analysis), Webhooks, React.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: B2B SaaS model charging marketplaces per verification.

Notes

  • Solves the frustration: "I'm tired of going to ... Artist Alley Markets only to find they've started letting in 'Joe Blow with a poorly configured 3d printer #35.'"
  • Provides the "real trust tracking system" mentioned by munificent, allowing consumers to distinguish between "made with care" and "fake meaning."

Community-Rated Music Submission Platform

Summary

  • A music upload platform where visibility is determined not by an algorithm, but by a "human raters" pool.
  • Uploads are anonymized (no artist name) and presented to a jury of verified users who rate them based on enjoyment and perceived human effort. Tracks that score high on "human connection" get boosted; tracks flagged as AI are removed.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Music enthusiasts tired of algorithmic bias and AI flooding.
Core Feature Blind listening tests, reputation-based voting system, "Human" vs. "AI" flags.
Tech Stack Web Audio API for streaming, PostgreSQL, Python (Django).
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby (Community funded) or Revenue-ready: "Pro" tier for artists to submit to the jury pool.

Notes

  • Addresses the core debate: "It takes judgement and taste to pick a good song."
  • By anonymizing the submission, it forces listeners to judge the music based on quality and "soul" rather than pre-existing fame, directly countering the "slop" infiltration.

AI Music "Jukebox" for Background Use

Summary

  • A service that explicitly embraces AI generation for functional, non-artistic music (lo-fi beats, focus music, white noise) but segregates it strictly from "creative" music.
  • It creates a dedicated channel for "utility music" so it doesn't contaminate the human creative space, solving the issue of AI tracks cluttering search results for serious listeners.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Content creators, study/work focus listeners, cafes/offices.
Core Feature Genre-agnostic infinite generation, mood-based customization, strictly labeled as "Functional AI Audio."
Tech Stack Generative Audio Models (Riffusion or similar), React Frontend.
Difficulty Low (Uses existing open-source models)
Monetization Revenue-ready: Royalty-free licensing for businesses (YouTube/Twitch streamers).

Notes

  • Acknowledges a valid use case mentioned in the thread: "I use Suno for DND type campaigns when I need custom music for scenes or background noises."
  • By keeping this content separate, it prevents the "desecrating the body of work of a departed musician" scenario and keeps human platforms clean.

Read Later