Podcast

Music & Meaning

If It Were Easy, Everyone Would Do It

Charlie Peacock wonders how democratizing music creation—dropping the barrier to entry so low that anyone can write a song—affects the individual’s soul and our culture.

Uh oh. AI is giving music consumers the apps to make their own tunes—or at least make ABBA sing like chipmunks. In today’s show, Charlie rides a rollercoaster of emotions. He loves to play with the new tech but has the blues over the effortless nature of modern music-making tools. With a few text prompts, anyone can create a hooky pop song in 60 seconds—easy as ordering a latte. You don’t even have to spell Taylor Swift right, let alone know music theory.

Contributing to today’s episode are music educators Matthew White, associate professor and chair of jazz studies at the University of South Carolina, and Thavius Beck, assistant professor in electronic production and design at Berklee College of Music. They reveal how musical academia has evolved to encompass classical/jazz proficiency and digital innovation. However, what constitutes essential music literacy is still being debated.

Susan Stewart from the Recording Academy also tells us if AI-composed music gets to sit with the cool kids at the Grammys. Spoiler alert: There’s a human dress code.

Special musical guest, bassist, and singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill exemplifies the merger of old and new schools, blending his mastery of upright bass and songwriting with cutting-edge technology.

In summary, this episode challenges listeners to consider the implications of some mind-blowing technological advancements for both current and future musicians and music consumers who increasingly engage in creating music themselves. Charlie weaves engaging discussions with poignant “in-the-studio” examples and invites us to reassess the essence of musical talent, imagination, and creativity in the digital age. The big, meaningful question: Does easy access to making music enhance or undermine the true art of music and the culture that loves and supports it?

Get comfortable, adjust your headphones, and let’s decode whether music’s new production tech leads to a satisfying crescendo or a cacophonous catastrophe.

“Music and Meaning” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Produced by Erik Petrik and Matt Stevens Produced and Written by Charlie Peacock and Mike Cosper Associate Produced by Raed Gilliam Mixed by TJ Hester Original Music by Charlie Peacock Additional studio and remote engineering by Bridget Ashworth Show theme, “Sound of the Room,” composed by Charlie Peacock, featuring bassist John Patitucci

Information on Charlie's latest books and music, including his own "drag and drop" producer sample pack, is available at charliepeacock.com

Special guests on this episode:

Matthew White, associate professor and chair of jazz studies, the University of South Carolina; Thavius Beck, assistant professor in electronic production and design at Berklee College of Music; Susan Stewart, senior managing director of the Songwriters & Composers Wing for the Recording Academy; and musical guest, bassist, and singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Highlights and Lowlights of 1957

In its first full year of publication, CT looked at Civil Rights, Cold War satellites, artificial insemination, and carefully planned evangelism.

News

Will There Be a Christian Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Conservatives suggest country and Christian artist alternatives for game day.

News

As Madagascar’s Government Topples, Pastors Call for Peace

Gen Z–led protests on the African island nation led to a military takeover.

News

Amid Fragile Cease-Fire, Limited Aid Reaches Gazans

Locals see the price of flour rise and fall as truce is strained and some borders remain closed.

News

Federal Job Cuts Hit Home as Virginia Picks Its Next Governor

Meanwhile, the GOP candidate draws from Trump’s playbook to focus on transgender issues in schools. 

Religious OCD and Me

Scrupulosity latches onto the thing we hold most dear—our relationship with God.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube