Sumerian Records Founder Ash Avildsen Calls for a “Velvet Revolution” Against AI in Music

We at MetalSucks and firebrand Sumerian Records founder Ash Avildsen have not gotten along in the past. We’ve battled over political issues, he’s called us communists (personally, I’m a socialist so he was wrong there…), it’s been a tumultuous few years. Yet for every moment we’ve criticized his disappointing festival decisions, we’ve also stood with him when he rightfully criticizes the worst parts of the music industry.

Earlier today, we got another instance where we can do nothing but wholeheartedly agree with Avildsen. In a lengthy social media post on Instagram, Avildsen called out the “corporate overlords” that mean to utilize AI to profit off of the music industry while stripping away the very humanity that makes music so important to all of us. He shot barbs at tech companies looking to make a quick buck and called for a “velvet revolutiojn of artists and labels” that want to stand and fight against a future where music is generated by unfeeling computers and not created by real humans with a heart and soul.

Rather than paraphrase what he said and potentially run the risk of starting another fight, here’s Avildsen’s statement in full:

“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”

Let the record show that we at MetalSucks agree with Ash Avildsen. If he intends to implement a “solution” that should help fight AI in music next month, we are excited to learn what he’s got up his sleeve and stand lockstep support of a meaningful answer to this whole AI issue.

We gotta take the music back.

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