As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the music industry, Mick Jagger is making one thing clear: he has no interest in hearing computers recreate The Rolling Stones.
The legendary frontman recently addressed the growing use of AI in music, drawing a distinction between creative experimentation and technology that simply copies existing artists. While The Rolling Stones have dabbled with AI-assisted visuals, Jagger says the line is crossed when artificial intelligence begins replicating the voices, sounds, and identities of real musicians.
Speaking in a new interview with Billboard, Jagger reflected on the band’s recent experience using deepfake technology in the music video for “In the Stars,” a track featured on The Rolling Stones’ newly released album “Foreign Tongues.”
The video digitally transformed the band’s appearance, allowing younger versions of the musicians to appear on screen. However, Jagger emphasized that the technology was limited to visual effects rather than replacing the performers themselves. “We had a lot of fun with that,” Jagger explained. “It’s only the faces of the musicians that are different.”
According to the singer, the performers remained real musicians playing in a real environment, with the digital effects serving only to recreate the band’s youthful appearance.
The Rolling Stones Draw The Line At AI Music Clones
While Jagger appeared comfortable with AI’s role in visual storytelling, he expressed significant concern about technology being used to replicate artists’ voices and musical styles. “Obviously I don’t want to be imitated by AI, vocally and instrumentally, and the band doesn’t,” Jagger said.
Jagger argued that technology should be used to create something original rather than produce near-identical copies of existing musicians. “I don’t want people just putting stuff out there that can sound exactly like The Rolling Stones,” he said. “I think that’s obviously wrong.”
His comments arrive as record labels, artists, and lawmakers continue debating how AI-generated music should be regulated. In recent years, viral songs using artificial versions of major artists’ voices have sparked lawsuits and renewed discussions about copyright protections in the streaming era.
In fact, Billie Eilish was one of more than 200 artists who signed an Artist Rights Alliance open letter in April 2024 urging AI developers and tech companies to stop using AI in ways that could “infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.” The signatures included Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Jon Bon Jovi, and others.
Keith Richards Wants Originality, Not Replication
Fellow Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards echoed Jagger’s concerns while offering his own perspective on the growing AI trend.
Richards described the band’s recent music video as its brief “brushing with AI” and joked that seeing a younger version of himself on screen was flattering. “I said, ‘Very nice. I wish I looked like that now,’” Richards recalled.
Still, the guitarist made it clear he believes music should continue to be driven by human creativity rather than algorithms trained on existing work. “My thoughts are: I’d rather hear something original,” Richards told Billboard.
He added that music should continue evolving through new ideas instead of endlessly recycling familiar sounds.
AI Continues To Divide The Music Industry
Jagger’s comments place him among a growing number of high-profile artists voicing concerns about how artificial intelligence is being used across the entertainment industry.
The debate has intensified as AI tools become increasingly capable of recreating vocals, generating songs, and mimicking the styles of established performers. While some artists have embraced the technology as a creative tool, others worry it could blur the line between inspiration and imitation.
For Jagger, the issue appears less about artificial intelligence itself and more about how it’s used. “If someone wants to make music by AI, go ahead,” he said. “But it has to be original. You have to have your own input and your own thoughts.”
Mick Jagger Says AI Should Inspire Creativity, Not Copy It
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer added that using AI solely to generate songs “in the style of The Rolling Stones” misses the point of creativity altogether. “If you were any kind of creative person,” Jagger said, “you wouldn’t do that.”
The comments arrive as “Foreign Tongues,” The Rolling Stones’ latest studio album, continues introducing the band’s music to a new generation while simultaneously sparking conversation about how technology may shape the future of the industry.