TMSTRY SITS DOWN WITH DICK BUTTONS
A conversation about AI music, Open Art, and the state of the scene I recently had a long conversation with Dick Buttons, one of the more outspoken voices in the AI music community, known for his sharp takes and his willingness to say things others won't. If you've been around the AI music space for any amount of time, you've probably come across his name. The interview is live on YouTube. Go watch it. But before you do, I want to set the record straight on a couple of things. On calling Open Art a scam I used the word "scam" during the conversation. That was too blunt, and I want to be clear about what I actually meant. My concern was, and still is, around transparency: how platforms in this space communicate their value to artists, what creators are actually getting in return, and whether expectations are being managed honestly. Those are legitimate questions worth asking. "Scam" was a strong word for what was really a skepticism about the model. I stand by the skepticism. I don't stand by the label. On the Fresh Friday Festival drama The conversation also touched on some ongoing tension around a rejected video at Fresh Friday Festival. There are two sides to this, and both have a point of view I understand. Curation is a real thing. So is the frustration that comes with rejection when you've put real work into something. I'm not going to pick a side here, and that's not me being diplomatic for the sake of it. I genuinely see where both camps are coming from. What I will say is this: framing it as censorship is a stretch. Curators make calls. That's not censorship. That's a festival doing what festivals do. I'm against censorship in a real sense, but this isn't that conversation. What the interview actually was Look, parts of it were uncomfortable. Some of that awkwardness was on me. It was a real conversation, not a polished PR moment, and I think that's actually what makes it worth watching. The AI music space is still finding its shape, and honest conversations, even messy ones, are part of that process. Watch the full interview below and make up your own mind. #TMSTRY #AIMusic #OpenArt #FreshFridayFestival #DickButtons #Interview #AIArtists
