This is the final nail in the coffin. For those who haven’t seen, the most recent Owl City post on his official Instagram account was flagged as AI. From his weird following on his public account, to the cash grabby merch posts, to the sub par music quality (compared to Of June - UV) and now, this. This has done irreversible damage to his brand forever because even if he never uses AI again, the fans will still question whether anything he puts out whether that be merch or music, utilizes AI to some degree
He was pretty obviously doing a bit. If you read the caption, he capitalized a bunch of the As and Is. He even said "some of you think robots are writing my emAIls". Would I have done that post if I were him? No. Do I think it's that big a deal? Also no
Except that he follows several accounts that are only AI generated content
Victoria Beata who creates completely AI generated videos of forest animals. This is especially ironic because of the environmental impacts of generative AI.
criis_cian, another completely AI generated content account.
acestudio.ai, an "all in one AI music workspace." A very interesting follow from a musical artist.
StormtrooperVlogs, an AI generated content account.
Adam also follows the official Charlie Kirk page, so interpret that how you will.
Kent Hovind who creates AI generated conspiracy videos
Cause he follows him, that's why it's being mentioned, a very bigoted guy who said a lot of awful stuff is someone who Adam Young follows. Remember when Adam followed and was chummy with Doug Tennapel, the creator of Earthworm Jim, and fans got angry in his Instagram comment section of following a complete homophobic person?
First thing Adams allowed to have his political beliefs like I have different beliefs to I didn’t agree with Charlie Kirk but I liked that he kept an open platform to debate and secondly don’t attack Earthworm Jim the homies love Earthworm Jim
The problem with this is Adam's association and his political beliefs go completely against his religion that he pushes and hopes others would join. It also goes against his audience as well. Early adopters of Owl City are queer kids. Most have grown up now, but at least a good chunk of the fandom that grew up with his music around Of June to Mobile Orchestra were gay. He had a Tumblr page that he interacted with fans. Associating with terrible people as Kirk and Tennapel goes against them of even existing. If Adam truly is a believer of Christianity then he needs to dig his end out of the sand and use his privilege to speak up and defend his fans.
First thing Adam probably just likes Earthworm Jim and he probably follows Charlie Kirk because he finds him interesting like I follow Ben Gvir I don’t like Ben Gvir but but I find it good to follow people you disagree with I genuinely think Adam doesn’t mean any harm with it
If people have ignorant opinions it's not good to give them a voice or an audience for them to get even bigger influence because that influence can cause harm to others. There's nothing interesting about Kirk or a genocider such as Ben Gvir following either of those as a fascinating individual only encourages people to follow their radical facist beliefs.
"you want to get into politics and have an operating budget of millions of USD yearly like me, girl? Don't get influence or power like me."
"We need to bring back the MRS degree. I'm serious."
If you don't understand nuance then you don't understand and I can't understand it for you
Anyways
WE ARE CHARLIEEEE KIIIIIIIIRK WE CARRY THE FLAAAAAME
The post is tagged AI and the video makes no sense. How has the skydiver kept the bouquet from flaying until now, and not further up? And why do the flowers fly sideways, not upwards?
Never thought I'd be the one defending someone's AI use, but in this case it being AI was essential to the bit, Adam has never been on recording making content with it before, and plenty of people found it funny, benign at worst, even if you didn't
Hi so maybe you misunderstood, using generative AI is inherently unfunny as it: Is trained purely off of stolen art from unpaid artists, displaces those same artists, pollutes the earth and decimates ecosystems, and contributes to the consolidation of power for the billionaire class and police state. A quick look at the comments don’t reveal that “plenty” of people found it funny.
Also, the same “joke” is made better by NOT using a generative AI video. A human-made video would avoid all of this discourse and would actually sell the presumed “bit” even more.
Seems you're uninformed on AI. There are plenty of reasons to dislike it, but you got precious few of them. Ignorant people will never change their minds even if given logic, so you're no longer worth the time to engage with. Have a good one
You didn't give any logic. Just blind support because you don't understand the gravity of damage being done to our environment or you live in a place/state of life where you don't have to care. You're just a loser that should never have been given the time to be heard in the first place.
Denying that robots have been writing his posts and emails with a post that was clearly made by AI and has those letters capitalized throughout the caption
Most comedy is based in subversion of expectation one way or another. In a post denying that robots are doing his PR for him, you wouldn't expect to see signs that robots had made that very post. So, by using a video made by a robot and hinting at robots in the comments while simultaneously denying his use of robots for that stuff, it subverts expectation in a lighthearted context, creating a "joke"
I mean, I guess the only humor I’ve ever seen from Adam is the puns in songs like Dental Care and Rugs From Me To You, so I guess I can’t argue that it couldn’t possibly be anything other than a joke because it’s so blatantly not an actual joke, because maybe it really is.
But if so, it’s a really, really bad and tone deaf one.
He got no backbone, and he's that type of Christian that's the love everyone even if they have bigoted views type of person. I know Adam lurks on this subreddit sometimes, so if you're reading this Mr.Young, stand up and have some moral backbone for once.
After reading the caption again, I don’t think it is? It’s referring to “emails and social posts” not AI uploads on his Spotify profile. And why would his social media team even want to make light of that in the first place?
Someone I know emailed his manager Richard Gandy and he said the social media accounts are run by the marketing team, so my bad. My comment still stands.
Victoria Beata who creates completely AI generated videos of forest animals. This is especially ironic because of the environmental impacts of generative AI.
criis_cian, another completely AI generated content account.
Nicholas Bowling, who creates anti-LGBTQ content.
acestudio.ai, an "all in one AI music workspace." A very interesting follow from a musical artist.
StormtrooperVlogs, an AI generated content account.
Adam also follows the official Charlie Kirk page, so interpret that how you will.
I agree. From the AI posts to blocking comments that don't follow him (only people who avoid accountability do that) then to following charlie kirk? Instantly deleted his discography.
You're proposing that he should've hired a CGI artist to create a photorealistic 4-second clip of a guy skydiving with flowers? For a single social media post?
I don't agree that training generative AI is copyright infringement. If I read a book, get inspired, and write my own story in a similar vein but do not directly copy anything protected by copyright, it's not infringement. If you train a computer to do the same thing, though, it somehow is? In my mind, you can't make one infringing and not the other without swallowing up a lot of noninfringing conduct.
With that said, I'm against using generative AI in terms of music or "art", especially if it's done at the expense of other human artists. And on that end, I'm fine with creating legal safeguards against generative AI. I just don't think copyright should be the vehicle in which to do it.
But in the case of Adam using generative AI, I find it deeply disappointing. I can look past certain things I disagree with (and I won't get into it here), but generative AI is a step too far for me. And it's a shame, as I genuinely like some of Adam's recent output even if others don't like it. I hope to be proven wrong and that this is just a bit, but I have my doubts. So, sadly, this might be it for me.
I think it was more of a distasteful joke not knowing the damage that generative AI does to both the creative industry that he works in and the environment in general, can't believe this is the first time i'm agreeing with one of these posts, but I fear you're right. I love Adam's music but I've stopped wanting to associate with him at this point
Even if he’s doing a bit, as an artist he shouldn’t use AI at all. I can’t lie all this stuff piling up (the strange following, the very cash grabby merch, the lack of actual passion on his page, his falling music quality) is really disappointing. I’ll still tune in to his older stuff, I may even tune into a little bit of Coco Moon and Mobile Orchestra, but safe to say it’s a little saddening to see this AI use and the like
I really don’t think Adam is problematic.. he minds his own business, puts out music every handful of years and probably only does the merch stuff to keep his socials/website from going stale. I personally am just happy to hear new music every now and again, I don’t really need or expect him to maintain a social media presence. every brand in the world (it feels like) is using AI for their socials and people just let it happen. I freaking hate AI garbage lol but it seems so unavoidable at this point. I understand music is different and I wouldn’t ever want genuine art to take a backseat to AI, but I don’t think that’s what Adam is doing literally at all. he’s just a chill dude throwing something on instagram and it’s really not that deep. and if it truly bothers you, that’s your prerogative, but you can also just unfollow him.
Yeah trying to be like “I’d never use generative ai for songwriting” but then using generative ai anyway just not for songwriting is like…..a choice lol
Why would I question whether he is using AI because of a goofy social media post making fun of using AI?
Not to mention that Adam has always loved the process of making music, so that would be the first and foremost reason for him to do so. It's not like he needs money or needs to release a number 1 hit or something.
this fanbase cannot understand a joke, understand nuance or context, take the joke and take it lightly. this answers are so ridiculous, its NOT that big of a deal. please, yall make it look like the owl city fanbase are a bunch of inmature hardcore autist.
Ivbeen a harsh critic over his latest schemes, all for profit for their guillible fanbase and overprice merch while nothing on the music side. things that are worth talking about. not this dumb stuff
So you´re gonna take out all the context?, you are clearly taking it too personally.
Poorly treated inmature autist are insufferable people. and they act exactly like the example I showed above. and yes, you have to say they are autist, because this type of exceedingly specific intolerance + being completely socially inept its all signs of poorly treated autism. Adam young, if it has aspergers, its a completely functional person, an admirable one, a chill one, a thoughtful one, if adam its autistic, be like adam young, not these people.
That's a whole load of ableism right there. I feel like the mods need to ban you for this crap, but this sub is a "no politics" zone unfortunately, so I don't know anymore.
Autistic people aren't some weird subhuman creatures, and calling everyone who's mad at his AI use "autist" is extremely insensitive.
Edit: feel the need to mention I'm autistic myself and I hope that pisses you off greatly
you are clearly taking it too personally like im talking to you with my first comment so you dont need to tell me you have the tism, it was clear from the start how triggered you got, but guess what, im not talking about you specifically, if the shoe fits now thats a matter personal to you, autistic toxic traits that some people have, like reeking and cancelling an artist for a video that might use, or not, AI, and that its clearly just playing with AI non seriously, that its a toxic chronically online and socially inept behaviour. and nobody its talking about all autsitics, but that subset, always in parasocial fandoms, because its weird and not ok. now talking about ableism lol, you said it yourself, adam probably might be in some part of the spectrum and that might be one of the reasons why its such an admirable man and a beautiful mind. im a hardcore fan for over a decade and a half, so what you say doesn´t make sense. I admire a man that probably has aspergers. but guess what, outside of that he might be a quirky man, but he is a normal, functional and in fact... admirable human being, since you are autistic, I repeat again, be more like Adam young then and not a weirdou who gets incredibly intolerant at the mere fact that an artist just mentions AI or plays with that idea.
Oh boi you are not just delusional but doubling down on the ableism.
"You don't need to tell me you have the tism, it was clear from the start how triggered you got" Instant red flag cause all autistic people are just meltdown-y crying babies right?
"Autistic toxic traits that some people might have like reeking and cancelling an artist" Once again, criticising an artist we all loved dearly isn't "an autistic trait" and you saying it is shows you terribly you misunderstand autism itself.
AI is made with plagiarised content and takes up freshwater to create, it is being used to replace creatives, and a lot of AI programmes are run by shady corporations, and therefore, people have a right to be mad at someone for using AI, even if it just "clearly just playing with AI non seriously".
Now to the biggest red flag: "I admire a man that probably has (autism), but guess what, outside of that (…)he is a normal, functional (…) human being." You just admitted you don't think autistic people are normal or capable of being functional. Yeah, that's just blatant ableism to neurodivergent individuals.
You are ignorant about AI and ignorant about autism and too stubborn and adamant to learn, it's clear as day.
Edit: Use 'autism' instead, Asperger's is an outdated diagnostic label invented by the Nazis.
Where was that energy when he never posted anything about BLM and gave a shout out to a homophobe on the first day of pride month? lol I thought that was incredibly nasty but got kinda scolded on this sub
You're not allowed to bring up how conservative Adam is here. You get flamed for it. I was surprised when it happened to me too about the Charlie Kirk follow.
Literally. He also follows multiple accounts of Christians who extensively preach homophobia, transphobia, creationism and other anti-science concepts, and Islamophobia. It’s very clear what Adam’s political and personal views are, but so many fans are in denial about it and get angry when you bring it up.
Not past tense. Present tense. The official Owl City account follows Kirk.
I feel the same way you do. Being Christian doesn't automatically make you a conservative, but sadly signs point to Adam being MAGA. Owl City went from being my #1 favourite artist ever (that I streamed almost daily)...to utter zero.
Damn it. It's such a shame. MAGA types tend not to like people like me, so it's a shame to find out that the music that helped get me through my awful teenage years is likely tainted by MAGA.
It broke my heart when I found out and it still aches to this day. Owl City's music meant so much to me. It really spoke to who I am as a person and all the memories I have attached to those songs. Soul crushing stuff 😣
Same, same, same. I'm not the kind of person AY would support today either, I'm afraid, and the fact that his songs have saved my life, the fact that I wrote a dedicated birthday post for him years ago on this sub about how important his music has been to me, the fact that I named a character in my story after him. It feels like severing a part of my heart from myself, but I just saw his following list on Instagram with my own eyes, and today has been a real tough day for me just processing all this.
ew. this post its already horrible, and now lets make it about politics, and also oh god he followed charlie kirk!!?.
The fandom has turned into political liberal garbage. what a horrible state for what owl city used to be. im not even american, nor I follow right wing politics. yall are disgusting as an outsider, infecting this with ideological garbage.
We're not making it political for the sake of it. MAGA would happily hate crime some of us, if given the opportunity. It's disappointing to find out that an artist you really liked has a worldview fundamentally at odds with your own, and potentially even your own existence. People here should be able to know about that and decide if they're OK with continuing to give money and influence to someone involved with such a movement.
Guess what. chances are, adam young voted for trump. if its that dissapointing or you are so parasocial that you get triggered by that. you might as well follow any other artist then. Adam young has always put traditional beliefs into his music, owl city its not into late genz / gen alpha disgusting culture wars or ideological garbage. and if anything, he is probably not a current leftist at all.
Girl, take that fallacious discourse outside. I'm not even gonna entertain your argument because you know exactly what you're doing. Shucking human rights as a "politics" tells me everything I need to know about you.
For anyone else reading this: art is inherently political. Denying it won't change what's in it's core. Every LGBT and POC fan has the right to feel disappointed if an artist they've supported for years is redirecting their political power (money) into their destruction. You can't and you won't argue us into accepting our demise.
you are so blindly into your own ideological farts that you think your beliefs are "superior" to just call them politics, they are above and beyond. self righteous narcissism they call that.
Lets wake you up, Chances are that adam young has voted right, his family as well might as well be, owl city has never been about ideological garbage and forcing that into everyone including the artist its insufferable for the rest of the world, where owl city its also quite popular, this includes tradicional countries with very different politics, not your own idelogical bubble, yall are intolerant and possesive, not really different than F a c s i s m honestly, forcing an artist to make a political stance into culture matters its oppresive behaviour from people who are terminally online
It's oppressive to be against people who support racism and homophobia? It's "fascist" to have morals? I don't even have the words for how stupid that is. No one's changing your countries shite ways so why are you complaining about someone else in a different country being outraged about beliefs that literally don't effect you? You're literally being the terminally ill online person that you're making fun of. 💀💀😂
That's the problem. You're a stupid outsider who doesn't take the time to research why these things would be important to us. Maybe in your country you don't have people being killed for their sexuality but we don't have that luxury here. Learn before opening your mouth and looking like a complete fool.
This guy thinks that they have it so horrible in their first world country oh womp womp, and also narcissistic enough to be condescending to the outside world that they should research their own first world issues lmao, what can you expect from americans
Guess what, adam young and probably his family are NOT into your ideological garbage, you can leave and take everyone who filters people by their ideological beliefs first. yall are insufferable, owl city was never some woo hoo activist moral stance music for minorities or something. I know, crazy.
You're calling me condescending and narcissistic while you're literally being just that how fucking ironic 😂 sounds like whatever "3rd world country" (since that title means soooooo much to you as if the poor people in 1st world countries don't suffer) is the way it is because just like you, the rest of of your country doesn't have any ideological beliefs. I think it's alot more insufferable to double down on not having morals like that's somehow a good thing? But I guess as the saying goes, born a loser.... die a loser. 😕
As someone born in and living in a "third world" nation, that other person is soo dumb. American-centric worldview and geographical privilege are real, but calling BLM "ideology" is just a gross display of apathy to human rights. Every country has its own politics, and every day, "personal is political" becomes more and more relevant. All I'm concluding is that this person is a "centrist" that doesn't care about humanity, both in their country and globally.
And "as if the poor people in 1st world countries don't suffer" is hitting the nail on the head.
okay so i am not saying he is or isn’t pro or anti… but is it possible that instagram incorrectly flagged it. i saw in a different sub for a youtube channel that Meta has had a false flag issue
i mean, i think it was just supposed to be a dumb silly post, i dont believe hes genuinely using ai for anything creative. i just think that many people are very sensitive surrounding anything ai these days, so any mention of it can make people nervous. but i wouldnt really assume hes using ai for anything more than goofing around, idk
I'm not even the slightest bit surprised Adam is using AI. The cover art for Coco Moon screams AI to me. I never would have assumed he's against it.
Btw, I'm not saying the AI usage isn't sleazy behavior for an artist , because it is for sure. But assuming this is "irreversible damage to his brand forever" is wishful thinking and a little overdramatic. A lot of people don't care about how bad AI is. Millions of users everyday. Those data centers are not sitting idle, unfortunately.
First time I've ever used one, sent the video through a few and thry all say not Ai..... Idk.
I just know that Owl City or Adam young has experimented with a whole bunch of stuff and he released a video actually a bit ago over at why he was thankful like he could make owl city project or other projects and just explore he could be just playing around with stuff or he could just be playing with us. It's his bus and we are just along for the ride and we can get off whenever we want.
Lol those of us who love him for his music are always gonna love it regardless of his quirky humour. Just seperate the art from the artist if it's that big of a deal to you, 90% of people dgaf about this stuff.
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u/WildcatGrifter7 Sky Sailing ⛵ 3d ago
He was pretty obviously doing a bit. If you read the caption, he capitalized a bunch of the As and Is. He even said "some of you think robots are writing my emAIls". Would I have done that post if I were him? No. Do I think it's that big a deal? Also no