Blab Tech
Shinedown Guitarist and Singer Reject AI-Generated Music Amid New Album Release
When the guitar riffs of Shinedown echo across stadiums, the band’s latest declaration is a clear rejection of the algorithmic wave sweeping the music world.
On June 8, guitarist Zach Myers told Primordial Radio that AI‑generated melodies are “awful” and urged fellow musicians to draw from lived experience instead of machine output. The same sentiment was echoed by lead vocalist Brent Smith in a February 2025 interview with Popdust, where he insisted that the group’s eighth studio album—stylized as Ei8ht—was written, recorded, and produced entirely by human hands.
Ei8ht hit shelves on May 29, 2026 under Atlantic Records. The 18‑track collection was preceded by six singles—“Three Six Five,” “Dance, Kid, Dance,” “Killing Fields,” “Searchlight,” “Safe and Sound,” and “Outlaw”—and has already charted on several Billboard rock lists. According to the band, no AI software was involved in any part of the album’s creation. Bassist and producer Eric Bass clarified that looping and sequencing were handled manually, with final arrangements assembled in the studio by the band.
Shinedown, formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 2001, has released eight studio albums and sold more than 10 million records worldwide. The group holds a record for the most number‑one singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, with 23 top‑five hits and 24 number‑ones, as Myers has noted. The current lineup—Smith on vocals, Barry Kerch on drums, Zach Myers on guitar, and Eric Bass on bass—has remained stable for years.
In tandem with the album’s launch, the band announced the “Dance, Kid, Dance Act II” world tour, slated to cover 11 countries and 54 dates across North America and Europe. Support acts will include COHEED AND CAMBRIA, BLACK STONE CHERRY, FROM ASHES TO NEW, DJ Rock Feed, and THOSE DAMN CROWS on selected dates.
Shinedown’s stance reflects a broader debate in the industry about the place of generative models in creative work. While AI tools can churn out chord progressions and hooks, artists like Myers and Smith argue that the emotional depth and authenticity of human experience cannot be replicated by algorithms. They also point to legal and ownership questions that surface when a machine contributes to a composition.
The comments arrive as major labels, including Atlantic Records, explore licensing agreements with AI music‑generation platforms. Yet the band has made it clear that it will continue to rely on traditional songwriting and recording methods for its forthcoming releases.
Ei8ht and the accompanying tour serve as a concrete example of Shinedown’s commitment to human‑driven creativity. Fans and industry observers will watch closely to see how the group’s approach influences the ongoing conversation about AI’s role in music production.
On June 8, guitarist Zach Myers told Primordial Radio that AI‑generated melodies are “awful” and urged fellow musicians to draw from lived experience instead of machine output. The same sentiment was echoed by lead vocalist Brent Smith in a February 2025 interview with Popdust, where he insisted that the group’s eighth studio album—stylized as Ei8ht—was written, recorded, and produced entirely by human hands.
Ei8ht hit shelves on May 29, 2026 under Atlantic Records. The 18‑track collection was preceded by six singles—“Three Six Five,” “Dance, Kid, Dance,” “Killing Fields,” “Searchlight,” “Safe and Sound,” and “Outlaw”—and has already charted on several Billboard rock lists. According to the band, no AI software was involved in any part of the album’s creation. Bassist and producer Eric Bass clarified that looping and sequencing were handled manually, with final arrangements assembled in the studio by the band.
Shinedown, formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 2001, has released eight studio albums and sold more than 10 million records worldwide. The group holds a record for the most number‑one singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, with 23 top‑five hits and 24 number‑ones, as Myers has noted. The current lineup—Smith on vocals, Barry Kerch on drums, Zach Myers on guitar, and Eric Bass on bass—has remained stable for years.
In tandem with the album’s launch, the band announced the “Dance, Kid, Dance Act II” world tour, slated to cover 11 countries and 54 dates across North America and Europe. Support acts will include COHEED AND CAMBRIA, BLACK STONE CHERRY, FROM ASHES TO NEW, DJ Rock Feed, and THOSE DAMN CROWS on selected dates.
Shinedown’s stance reflects a broader debate in the industry about the place of generative models in creative work. While AI tools can churn out chord progressions and hooks, artists like Myers and Smith argue that the emotional depth and authenticity of human experience cannot be replicated by algorithms. They also point to legal and ownership questions that surface when a machine contributes to a composition.
The comments arrive as major labels, including Atlantic Records, explore licensing agreements with AI music‑generation platforms. Yet the band has made it clear that it will continue to rely on traditional songwriting and recording methods for its forthcoming releases.
Ei8ht and the accompanying tour serve as a concrete example of Shinedown’s commitment to human‑driven creativity. Fans and industry observers will watch closely to see how the group’s approach influences the ongoing conversation about AI’s role in music production.
