D'Addario finally admits using Suno AI after weeks of denials

After maintaining for nearly two weeks that no generative AI was involved in a promotional video, D'Addario has reversed course and acknowledged using Suno, an AI music generation tool, to regenerate the audio track.

The controversy unfolds#

The string manufacturer initially released a demo video for its extended-range guitar strings last month, but viewers quickly became suspicious of the recording's authenticity. Rather than clarify the situation, D'Addario doubled down with a series of explanations: poor audio exports, digital artifacts from plugins like Autotune, and AI-assisted mastering software from LANDR and Logic.

When the company later shared what it claimed were the original Logic recording sessions, discrepancies between the audio files and the finished track became impossible to ignore. Guitarist and YouTuber Rhett Shull obtained the original Logic files directly from D'Addario and concluded that Suno had likely been used to regenerate portions of the recording at some point in production.

The admission and apology#

Rather than release a separate statement, D'Addario edited its original July 29th Instagram post five days ago to include a lengthy acknowledgment: "We got this wrong. We've completed a full review and confirmed that Suno Studio was used to regenerate the original track."

The update also addresses the company's aggressive moderation during the controversy, which involved deleting critical comments and blocking users. D'Addario stated it would implement stricter internal processes going forward, requiring employees and creative partners to disclose any use of generative AI and committing to more thorough oversight of its public output.

Broader implications#

This admission marks another chapter in ongoing tensions within the music industry over AI adoption. It follows recent controversy involving Fender's CEO making remarks comparing bandmates to analog AI, underscoring growing unease among musicians and manufacturers about where these technologies fit in creative spaces.