Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Ash Avildsen, founder of Sumerian Records, has consistently expressed his opinions openly, even when such statements invite significant backlash and scrutiny, as theprp reports. Although he has expanded his career to include directing films, managing festivals, and overseeing a comics company, he initially gained prominence within the metal community as a member of the progressive metalcore band Reflux.
Following the disbandment of Reflux, Avildsen’s involvement in the metal scene persisted through his efforts in booking and promoting metal tours, ultimately leading to the establishment of Sumerian Records. The label played a pivotal role in launching the careers of bands such as Asking Alexandria, Animals As Leaders, and Bad Omens, while also releasing records from artists including Jonathan Davis of Korn and Chino Moreno’s Crosses.
Over time, Sumerian Records diversified beyond their original metal focus to explore other musical genres. On December 5th, Avildsen publicly criticized current record labels and digital service providers that facilitate AI-generated music streaming through a social media post on Instagram. In his statement, Avildsen articulated a critical stance towards these entities and indicated that he has a forthcoming ‘solution’ to address the issue, which is expected to be introduced in January.
We will not go quietly into the night as the corporate overlords once again marginalize and minimize the reward of human music.
The big three and big tech have all teamed up to usher in Al bands with open arms. Why? Same reason they allowed Spotify and YouTube to rape the artist royalty and devalue what playing a song on demand is worth. Because they get to sit in a closed door conference room, cut a deal for equity and an MG (minimum guaranteed up front advance) that solely goes to the corporation.
They are not in the individual artist business. They are in the shareholder business.
Allowing these Al bands to be uploaded to Spotify is like booking a door deal for a band and your % of the ticket money has to be split with a computer who went on stage before you with no beating hearts. That’s how the royalties work with streaming. It’s not a per play rate, it’s a numeric meritocracy designed to benefit those at the top of the food chain. Period.
There must be a velvet revolution of artists and labels that refuse to accept and comply with what the old guard is doing against our will.
We will not start 2026 off accepting defeat as humans who create and cultivate art. A solution will be presented in January that begins a new era in how the first window of music and video releases can launch that draws a clear line in the sand on which side of history musicians and those that work with them can decide to be on.
Without humans creating music and the teams around them who make daily sacrifices for the greater good so the musicians’ art can sustain their lives, none of these tech companies or distributors are worth anything. It’s time to remind these opportunists.
I welcome any CEO or exec from a major label or tech company to debate me live on the Al crisis. Thanks for reading.
–Ash Avildsen
SUMERIAN Founder
Avildsen proceeded to share the Spotify profiles of several AI-generated bands that have garnered hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners, including Bleeding Verse. This AI-created metalcore group previously attracted media attention after Holding Absence vocalist Lucas Woodland expressed concerns in October. Woodland indicated that Bleeding Verse had surpassed Holding Absence in monthly listeners within approximately two months, raising questions about the influence of AI modeling.
He claimed that Bleeding Verse‘s AI had utilized the Holding Absence catalog to shape its algorithmic output, effectively drawing from the band’s existing music. The idea of competing against an AI rendition of one’s own band presents significant challenges for artists. Moreover, the widespread dissemination of AI-generated music raises further alarm, given AI’s ability to produce songs in minutes, compared to the extensive time required by humans.
