Art & Music: How Data Science is Changing Everything

Introduction

Have you ever loved a remix of a song but hated the original version? Why is it that Van Gogh, one of the most celebrated figures of art history, did not get any recognition in his lifetime?

It's not that it is unexpected, even before we could notice data science has made surges in music and art, shaping the venture of musicians, artists, creators, and the entire industry itself. Did you know that technology could write a song that sounds like your favourite artist? Imagine creating your song or remix by feeding AI your personalised tune, and specialised genre. 

In this blog, we will explore the role of Data Science in Music, Art, and Creativity. Let's investigate how Data Science is used in the music industry.

Data Science in the Music Industry

Music is a widely loved medium for humans to express their emotions in the most enchanting way possible. The music industry has evolved through the decades. In the last decade, the growth of the music industry has been exponential, in light of both artist popularity and their financial success. This has led to a massive increase in demand to produce music that resonates with a mass audience.

Globally, there are 616.2 million people who have paid music streaming subscriptions.
Source: https://www.zippia.com/advice/music-industry-statistics/

This is where the role of Data Science in the Music sector is evident. Music companies started using big Data Analysis tools, and Data Science skills to monitor music patterns and listeners' preferences to project the next big music trend or hit.

Data Science technology not only determines the listener’s experience but also impacts music production. Data Science methods, specifically Machine Learning, is used to examine music, and lyrics to identify the complex patterns involved in notes and rhythms. Algorithms are made to identify musical styles and generate base tracks for new artists through Data Analysis. From prompting inspiration to creating rhythms, from the production process to releasing to the target audience, Data Science is now involved in every phase of the musical journey.

Source: Advanced Music Analytics using Machine Learning | by James Chryssanthacopoulos | Towards Data Science

If you think that's the end of our exploration, let us shed light on the fascinating partnership between Data Science and Art. Data Science has not limited itself solely to music but is also outstretched to the Art Industry. But a few questions still exist for us to examine: Can data science unlock the hidden creativity of artists? Can AI understand the emotions involved in an Art piece? Let’s find out!

Data Science in Art and Creativity

Have tried using AI-generated images? Have you ever walked through an art gallery and used Google Lens to understand the meaning of a painting?

Data Science tools can be used to analyse brushstrokes, colour palettes, and materials used in painting, and can classify the art piece’s artist, period and style. This helps to ensure the artwork is genuine and identifies hidden patterns within an art piece. It can also be used to recognize emotions depicted in an art piece.

• This figure depicts AI analyzing brushstrokes
  Source: Researchers train AI to attribute paintings based on detailed brushstroke analysis

From identifying a masterpiece to elevating the artist's experience, data science encapsulates it all. Data Science’s subset, called Generative AI, can generate a visualisation based on an artist’s ideas and thoughts, and even predict relevant social media trends in art. This unlocks possibilities for personalised creative experiences, which helps artists to break through their creative blocks.

• Use quantitative language to describe artworks
  Source: https://www.artnome.com/art-analytics

We have explored Data Science's undeniable role in Music and Art. However, this role has also become controversial in recent times. The question arises: Does AI-generated art overshadow human creativity or make artistic styles monotonous?

Future Possibilities: Bridge between Creativity and Data Science

With the arrival of Data Science, the world of Music and Art has taken a new route unlike anything we have ever seen before. Yet ultimately, the complexity and creativity of the human mind are too vast for Data Science to entirely replace it. Striking a balance between the analytical power of Data Science and human creativity is vital to navigate this new era of creativity. Data Science has the potential to unlock unknown routes for Artists and Musicians, and enhance our understanding of creativity.

The collaboration between Science and Art is just getting started. Beyond Music and Art, Data Science has also become an integral part of daily life. By understanding how to use Data Science tools, everyone can elevate their living experience, and leverage the power of Data to enrich their creative objectives. Whether you are from a technical or a non-technical background like the creative arts, learning Data Science will help you switch from working hard to working hard and smart.