The Double Helix

The Permission Layer for AI Music: Consent, Attribution, and Getting Artists Paid

AI Music Rights & Licensing: Building the Permission Layer (with Grimes, Apple & Blockchain in the Mix) What happens when AI can create infinite music but artists can't track infinite uses? In this panel, Abbi Press, Global Lead of Business Affairs at Uber and lifelong musician, hosts a deep dive into AI in the music industry, from copyright and consent to metadata and money. She’s joined by Daouda Leonard (CreateSafe) who pioneered Grimes' voice-cloning experiment, Dae Bogan (The MLC) envisioning "infinite licensing," Marc Rucker (SoundExchange) defending artist autonomy, and Tushar Apte (Warner Chappell) navigating AI's creative reality, four experts building the systems behind AI music rights management. Together they unpack the idea of a “permission layer” for AI music: how consent, attribution, and payments can be enforced at scale, and where blockchain and automated licensing fit in. They unpack the $75K studio dilemma dividing creators, why opt-out frameworks fail artists, how Apple secretly solved infinite licensing, and whether blockchain can bridge the gap. From Grimes learning she hates her AI offspring to AI hitting Billboard's charts—this is the conversation shaping who gets paid when machines make music. Resources at thedoublehelix.substack.com [http://thedoublehelix.substack.com] Chapters: [00:00:00] Opening: Setting the Permission Layer My piano origin story and why this matters now [00:07:04] The Grimes Experiment Daouda on open-sourcing fame and digital freedom [00:12:55] Lyricists vs. Singers: The New Divide The $75K studio problem splitting music's creative class [00:27:30] Weekend Warriors vs. Professionals Two music industries that barely intersect [00:34:46] Infinite Licensing: Blockchain Meets AI Automated rights management without human negotiation [00:41:32] Apple's DJ Mixes: The Hidden Blueprint How infinite licensing already exists [00:48:38] The Authenticity Timeline From electric guitars to AI Billboard charts [00:54:10] Concluding Thoughts on Music and Technology Perfect for artists, producers, rights holders, and anyone trying to make sense of how AI will reshape the music business. The Double Helix: Making compliance your creative advantageGet full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe [https://thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

"You Cannot Generate Taste": Producer with 4 Billion Streams on Why AI Can't Replace Human Curation

Producer Tushar Apte (4B+ streams, BTS, Benson Boone, Demi Lovato) shares insights from testing every major AI music tool over 2+ years. His verdict: while AI excels at removing production grunt work, human taste—that ineffable sense of what works culturally and emotionally right now—remains irreplaceable. Key Topics: [00:01:09] Why "you cannot generate taste" [00:03:15] AI turns producers back into curators (the Rick Rubin model) [00:06:03] D'Angelo as the gold standard of un-generatable artistry [00:24:30] Where AI actually works: ideation, variation, background music [00:37:30] Why this gives creators hope, not fear [00:38:43] The Jungian snake dream: stop running from AI, turn and face it Guest: Tushar Apte (@springloaded on Instagram) Next: Join our live panel "Permission-First Music for AI" on Nov 12, 9am PT with Tushar, Daouda Leonard (CreateSafe/Grimes), Dae Bogan (The MLC), and Marc Rucker. Register: abbipress.com [http://abbipress.com] Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe [http://thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe] The Double Helix: Making compliance your creative advantage Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe [https://thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

I wrote a theme song for the Helix. The MIDI looks like DNA

Composing the Double Helix: The Podcast ThemeAbbi Press shares the studio story behind The Double Helix theme—two melodies in contrary motion with a tiny offset (the “rungs”), plucked piano (human) × arpeggiator (machine), Moog-warmth underneath. A crash-and-reopen revealed a piano-roll spiral that looks like DNA. We talk about why sonic identity matters (see The Daily / Song Exploder), and how work on Uber’s Olympics campaign reinforced the power of a memorable contour. Hear the 30-sec loop and grab the stems/MIDI to study or remix. Chapters00:00 Intro — why write a theme00:44 Sonic identity (The Daily / Song Exploder)01:20 Uber Olympics sonic ID (edit-bay moment)02:05 Building blocks: arp, plucks, Moog, grid offset03:00 Crash → motif: MIDI looks like DNA03:38 What’s next + stems/MIDI CTA Credits & ToolsMusic by Abbi Press · DAW: Ableton Live 11 · Instruments: plucked piano, arpeggiator, Moog-ish bass · Extras: keyboard-as-hi-hats, light pad. Comment HELIX on for stems + MIDI. Share your remix and tag The Double Helix. Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe [https://thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Double Take: Festivals Used to Feel Communal. Now They Feel Like SaaS Pricing Pages — Just Like AI.

Double Take: From Portola’s VIP Fence to AI’s Velvet Rope In this Double Take episode of The Double Helix, Abbi Press explores how the rise of VIP culture at festivals mirrors the fences being built around AI tools. She shares her experience at Portola — from the thrill of being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers at the front, to finding the same spot fenced off for VIPs a few hours later. That shift, from communal energy to tiered exclusivity, sparks a bigger question: is AI following the same path? Through vivid anecdotes and industry insights, Abbi draws parallels between live music and the future of digital tools — asking whether these fences are grifts, survival strategies, or both. 00:00 Introduction to the Double Helix 00:35 A Weekend at Portola Festival 01:35 The Rise of VIP Culture 03:16 AI and the New Digital Divide 05:53 Three Types of Connection 07:36 AI's Attempt to Simulate Human Connection 08:29 The Paradox of VIP and AI 09:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Read the full essay here: thedoublehelix.substack.com/doubletake-portola-ai-velvet-rope [https://thedoublehelix.substack.com/p/doubletake-portola-ai-velvet-rope] Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe [http://thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe] Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe [https://thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Superman vs. Midjourney: The Battle for Intellectual Property in the Age of AI

Warner Bros. Discovery is suing Midjourney for unauthorized use of Superman, Batman, and Scooby-Doo. But the case is bigger than one superhero — it’s a showdown between Hollywood and AI, and it raises a key question: what happens when Superman’s copyright runs out? We explore what this case means for copyright and trademark protections in the age of generative AI — and why it matters for creators, brands, and the future of storytelling. In this episode of The Double Helix, Abbi Press breaks down: * Why Superman’s 1938 comics won’t enter the public domain until 2034 * The difference between copyright (expires) and trademark (lasts indefinitely) * How Disney’s handling of Steamboat Willie shows what’s coming * Why AI isn’t just a speeding bullet — it’s copyright kryptonite Bottom line: copyright has a timer, but trademarks don’t — and in the AI era, that difference matters more than ever. Chapters 00:00 Superman’s Legal Battle with AI 00:21 Welcome to The Double Helix 01:10 The Copyright Conundrum 02:09 Understanding Copyright vs. Trademark 03:05 Case Study: Mickey Mouse 03:33 The Impact of AI on IP 03:53 Final Thoughts + Call to Action Subscribe to The Double Helix for more conversations at the intersection of creativity, compliance, and AI. Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe [https://thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]