AI Song Generators + Handmade Instruments

Nathan Fields
February 27, 2026

The Rareform Rundown #102

Hello Friends,

Nathan here. Hope you are doing well wherever you are reading this from. This week we are talking about AI music platforms Suno and Udio as they work through things with the traditional music industry and at the same time, I am also looking at Ei Wada and ELECTRONICOS FANTASTICOS! in Japan, who are turning old electronics into instruments and building sound from machines most people would throw away. Two very different takes on music and tech right now, both worth a closer look.

Let’s jump in!

New projects + music we are looking for

PROJECTS

Hyped to share that we composed a bunch of tracks for Season 42 of The Challenge! Big thanks to our friends at Paramount for bringing us in on this one!

AI music platforms Suno and Udio are starting to take steps toward formal relationships within the traditional music industry, following a wave of lawsuits from major record labels in 2024. What started as rapid growth and experimentation has now shifted into a more serious conversation about rights, ownership, and how this technology fits into an established ecosystem.

Both platforms allow users to generate full songs in seconds by typing in prompts for genre, tempo, mood, or instrumentation. As adoption accelerated, millions of AI generated tracks began circulating online, including uploads to streaming services like Spotify. That level of scale quickly caught the attention of rights holders, bringing legal and business questions to the forefront.

This moment feels less like a pause and more like a turning point. The tools are not slowing down, but the industry is clearly asking how they move forward responsibly.

Suno and Udio Seek Industry Alignment After Copyright Suits

Suno and Udio are navigating copyright lawsuits from Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records while pursuing new licensing agreements. As AI generated music platforms seek formal partnerships, the industry debate around training data, artist compensation, and transparency continues to evolve. #AIMusic #MusicIndustry #SyncLicensing #MusicTechwww.rareformaudio.com/blog/ai-music-lawsuits-suno-udio-licensing

We are used to chasing the next update. New software. New hardware. Faster systems. Better specs. But in Japan, Ei Wada and his collective ELECTRONICOS FANTASTICOS! are looking in the opposite direction. They are building instruments out of discarded electronics. Old barcode scanners create melody. CRT televisions become rhythmic elements. Even ventilation fans are turned into sound sources.

It is experimental on the surface, but there is a deeper idea underneath. Technology gets labeled obsolete quickly. Once it falls behind, it is forgotten. This project challenges that mindset. Instead of asking what is new, they are asking what is still possible. In a music world that lives mostly inside laptops, there is something refreshing about pulling sound from physical objects that were never meant to be instruments. It is less about nostalgia and more about perspective.

Maybe innovation is not always about moving forward. Sometimes it is about rethinking what we already have.

From Barcode to Beat: The Unexpected Origin of Sound

From barcode scanners to CRT televisions, obsolete electronics are becoming playable instruments. This insight explores how raw signal processing, physical interaction, and repurposed hardware are influencing modern sound design and music production workflows. A look at where sound really begins.

www.rareformaudio.com/blog/barcode-to-beat-where-sound-really-begins