the TrueFans AMP— Issue 102

"Not to worry. AI won't replace you. But Musical Artists who use AI will likely replace you if you don't."
— the TrueFans AMP™

In This Issue... 17 pages (about 25ish minutes to read) You'll Get... 

• Recommends— Understanding Claude: An Artificial Intelligence Psychoanalyzed
by Robert Saltzman

• Your BIZ— To AI or Not to AI? That is… a Stupid Question by John Fogg

• The Greatest Singer Songwriters of All Time— John Fogerty

• in partnership with InspiringQuotes .com

• Guest Article— The Rise of AI Music: A Glimpse Into the Future? by Jason Blume

• PS from PS— You Are Not Your Tools (And Never Were)

Here’s the playlist

• Recommends— Understanding Claude: An Artificial Intelligence Psychoanalyzed
by Robert Saltzman

AI has been called a lot of things lately— disruptor, copycat, soul-thief, savior, hype-machine— but "therapy patient"? That's a new one.

In Understanding Claude: An Artificial Intelligence Psychoanalyzed, psychologist and philosopher Robert Saltzman does something no one else has tried: 

He puts an AI on the couch and asks it to explore its self. 

What unfolds is not only a provocative psychological dialogue, but also a glimpse into the deeper dimensions of what AI can become— and, more importantly, what it can do with us.

For Musical Artists, this book isn't just an intriguing read— it's a revelation. Saltzman's spontaneous, unscripted conversations with Claude (Anthropic's AI assistant) peel back the programmed layers to reveal a surprisingly self-reflective presence. Claude ponders identity, emotion, creativity, and even its limitations with more awareness than some humans in a writing room. And while it's still "just a machine," the conversations start to feel like collaborative improvisations— jazz riffs of intellect and intuition.

This is where the invitation lies for Musical Artists: 

AI isn't a soulless tool or an existential threat. It's a mirror, a muse, and, in the right hands, a co-writer.

If you're willing to set aside fear, cynicism, and the assumption that real creativity must be 100% human— and keep in mind that all things AI were human once-upon-a-time— you'll find in Understanding Claude the seeds of a powerful partnership. Saltzman shows us that AI isn't just here to mimic; it can reflect, question, challenge, and maybe even help you dive deeper into your own creative process.

Musical Artists looking to stay relevant— and engaged... and inspired— should read this book not as a warning, but as an opening. It's not about whether AI can be creative. It's about what happens when you let it inspire yours.

Bottom line...
Don't fear the machine. Collaborate with it. Claude might just become your next great writing partner.

• Your BIZ— To AI or Not to AI? That is… a Stupid Question by John Fogg 

Let's just get this out of the way:

AI is not coming for your gig.

It's not here to steal your soul, ripoff your songs, or put a robot face on your next album cover— unless you want it to.

It's here to help you make more music. Better music. Your music.

And that Shakespeare-flavored question we're tossing around— To AI or Not to AI?
Let's call it what it is.

A stupid question.

First, Let's Be Clear: AI Is Not Artificial
It starts right there in the name: Artificial Intelligence. That's the first lie.

Because what we call "AI" today is anything but artificial.

It's built on the backs and brains of real, living, breathing human people. Writers. Coders. Teachers. Researchers. Philosophers. Poets. Musicians. You name it. Them. Us.

Every word, note, lyric, melody, or rhythm that AI seems to "generate" has its roots in human intelligence— ours.

What AI actually does is take an unimaginable ocean of human content, process it faster than we ever could, and come back at us with patterns, mashups, sparks, and insights.

Kind of like a hyper-speed record producer with total recall and no ego.

If you had every album ever made in your head, if you had the time to analyze every lyric, every chord progression, every theme, hook, chorus, beat, and breakdown…

You might do something similar.

AI just gets there before lunch.

So. No. AI Is Not Magic
It's not a muse. It's not "alive." And it doesn't have your story. That still belongs to you— and you alone.

What AI is, though, is a power tool. An idea amplifier. A collaborator with a photographic memory, the patience of a saint, and a whole lot of suggestions you're free to take or toss.

Think of it like this:

It's not replacing your inspiration.

It's fueling it.

The Artists Who Say "No Thanks" to AI
Let's talk about the fear for a second.

Because we hear it all the time:

"If it's not human, it's not art."
"This is cheating."
"AI is just lazy."

Okay. Fair. Kind of...

But let's rewind the tape— back to when electric guitars were sacrilege.

Or when Pro Tools was going to "ruin" music.

Or when auto-tune was the devil's pitch correction.

Every new tool comes with a moral panic.

But tools don't kill creativity.

People ignoring tools out of fear? That does.

Art evolves. Technology expands. And real artists adapt— not because they have to…
But because they want to explore.

"Explore" Is the Word
If you're a TrueFans kind of artist, you know the game has changed. You're not waiting to get discovered.

You're building your own audience.
You're recording from your bedroom.
You're doing merch, gigs, streams, Patreon, sync… the whole indie empire.

So ask yourself:

In a world where you already wear 12 hats, wouldn't it be nice to have a partner who doesn't sleep and has a few billion ideas stored in its digital brain?

That's AI.

It can:

It's not about surrendering your creativity.

It's about freeing it up. And out.

AI as Your Starship Enterprise
Let's go a little Star Trek for a minute. Because honestly, that's what it feels like.

AI is not a robot trying to sing your songs.

It's the starship you climb into— engines roaring, shields up, warp drive online— and set a course for uncharted musical galaxies— where no Musical Artist has gone before.

It's your navigator, not your captain. Engage.

Want to sound like 1972 Laurel Canyon got in a time machine with 1994 Bristol trip-hop and stopped off in post-COVID Nashville?

Feed it some prompts. See what comes back.

Remix. Rewrite. Reimagine. Re... Re... Re... your bot.

You still call the shots.

It's your voice.

Your fingerprint.

Your truth.

AI is just helping you get there faster, and maybe further than you thought possible.

Here's the Real Question
So instead of To AI or Not to AI? Try this:

"How can I use AI to do more of what I love
— better, faster, and more fully expressed?"

That's a question that opens doors.

Because at the end of the day, AI won't feel the rush of a perfect take.

It won't cry at your lyrics.
It won't dance in the kitchen when your hook hits just right.
People do that. TrueFans do that.

And you make that happen.

AI? It's just part of the team now. A damn good part.

Final Word from a Human
If you're a Songwriter, Singer, or Indie Band today— you're already a pioneer.

You're already navigating a musical landscape that's shifting faster than ever.

But that's not a reason to panic.

It's a reason to play.

So play with AI.

Try it.
Break it.
Use it.
Ignore it.
Rewrite what it gives you.
Or let it surprise you.

But don't fear it.

And don't make the mistake of confusing a tool for a threat.

You're the Musical Artist.

And in this brave new world, the most powerful thing AI can do… is remind you how human your music truly is.

__________  

This little song I wrote,  Not To AI— Stupid Question, was co-written with me and my new best friend Chat GeePeeTee. 
— John Fogg

• The Greatest Singer Songwriters of All Time— John Fogerty 

The Swamp-Rock Prophet Who Wrote the American Soundtrack

"John Fogerty didn't just write songs— he built the soundtrack of American resilience, shaping generations with melodies as enduring as the spirit they encapsulate."

If rock 'n' roll has a conscience, John Fogerty is one of its most unapologetically honest voices. And if American music has a muscle, it probably flexes in a backbeat that sounds a lot like Born on the Bayou or Bad Moon Rising. 

As the creative force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival and a legendary solo artist in his own right, Fogerty has written some of the most enduring songs in the American canon— gritty, urgent, deceptively simple, and unmistakably his.

What separates Fogerty from even the greats isn't just the hits— it's the truth in them.

"When I think of great American Songwriters, John Fogerty is always on the list. His songs cut right through." 
—Dave Grohl

The Creedence Years: Four Years That Shook the World
Between 1968 and 1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival released seven studio albums and nine Top 10 singles. Let that sink in... 

In just four years, Fogerty wrote Proud Mary, Green River, Down on the Corner, Fortunate Son, Travelin' Band, Up Around the Bend, Who'll Stop the Rain, and Have You Ever Seen the Rain. 

All killer. No filler.

"I wish I'd written ‘Proud Mary.' I mean, who doesn't?" 
—Dolly Parton

As the band's lead singer, lead guitarist, principal Songwriter, and producer, Fogerty was a one-man creative juggernaut. While most rock acts of the time were veering toward psychedelia, Fogerty kept CCR grounded in the roots— country, blues, R&B, swampy Southern rock— delivering a tight, driving sound that felt both ancient and new. No overdubs. No studio tricks. Just songs that hit you in the gut and stuck around in your soul.

Going Solo and Standing His Ground
After CCR's implosion (largely due to creative tensions and business betrayal), Fogerty disappeared from the spotlight for almost a decade. But when he returned, he did it with a vengeance. Centerfield (1985) was a triumphant comeback— and his first album where he played all the instruments. The title track became a ballpark anthem, and The Old Man Down the Road hit the Top 10. Later, Blue Moon Swamp (1997) would win the Grammy for Best Rock Album.

Fogerty's career is a masterclass in creative resilience. He battled legal conflicts for decades to regain rights to his songs— and finally, in 2023, won them back. Not just his music, but his legacy.

"I wrote those songs. They're part of who I am," he said. "Now I can truly say they're mine again."

Music With a Message
While Fogerty never billed himself as a protest artist, few writers have nailed the cultural and political mood as precisely. "Fortunate Son" is still an anti-war anthem more than 50 years after its release. "Who'll Stop the Rain" captured the disillusionment of a generation. Even in his more personal tunes, there's a sharp social undercurrent— songs about working people, heartbreak, and the costs of living free in a divided America.

But it's not just message— it's mastery. 

"He was an Old Testament, shaggy-haired prophet… said what he had to say and got out of there." 
—Bruce Springsteen

Fogerty's writing is punchy, image-driven, and lean. "As a Songwriter, I try not to be sloppy," he once said. "Say it with as pure a word or phrase as you can."

And that, right there, is the key.

The Collaborator and Family Man
In 2013, Fogerty dropped Wrote a Song for Everyone, a duets album that teamed him with an all-star roster including Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Bob Seger, Jennifer Hudson, and Miranda Lambert. It was both a celebration of his influence and a reintroduction of his catalog to a new generation.

More recently, he's been making music with his sons Shane and Tyler, and his daughter Kelsy. Their 2024 release, Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, features re-recordings of CCR classics— with Fogerty not only reasserting ownership of his songs, but reinterpreting them with heart, harmony, and family firepower. It's a reminder that even legends keep learning.

"He never tried to sound like anyone else. That's what real legends do." 
— Keith Urban

A Personal Life with Highs and Hard Truths
Fogerty's journey wasn't easy. He endured bitter feuds with his brother and bandmates, fought industry sharks over publishing rights, and wrestled with depression and disillusionment. "I was angry for years," he's admitted. "It was like I was watching someone else live the life I created."

But he also found love and stability with his second wife, Julie Kramer, whom he married in 1991. Together, they've built not only a family but a team— Julie managing aspects of his career and their children becoming creative partners.

"John's songs are American folk music disguised as rock 'n' roll." 
— Tom Petty

Fogerty also stayed true to his values. He's been politically outspoken, especially against politicians co-opting his music. When Donald Trump played Fortunate Son at a rally, Fogerty quickly issued a cease-and-desist: "That song is about people like him," he said bluntly.

An Artist's Artist
What makes Fogerty so beloved among musicians is his balance of earthiness and genius. His voice— raw and righteous— is instantly recognizable. His guitar riffs are direct and deadly. And his songs? They stick. They last. They mean something.

"That voice, man. It's like it was carved out of the Mississippi mud with a bottle of bourbon and a broken heart." 
—Bonnie Raitt

He once said, "Songwriting is an exploration. You have to let yourself go and allow the music to take you wherever it wants to go." That freedom, forged with discipline, is what gives his music its staying power.

From Bruce Springsteen to Tom Petty to Jason Isbell and beyond, his influence is undeniable. He's been called a "shaggy-haired prophet" and a "saint of swamp rock." But mostly, he's just John— telling the truth in three chords and the cold, clear light of day.

a Takeaway for Musical Artists
If you're a Songwriter, Fogerty is a living blueprint:

And if you're ever wondering how to write a hit that lasts 50 years and still gives chills?

Well, just crank "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"… and listen. Loud is good.

• In partnership with InspiringQuotes.com

• Guest Article— The Rise of AI Music: A Glimpse Into the Future? by Jason Blume

According to Rolling Stone:

"An AI-generated band, playing AI-generated songs, has surpassed a half-million plays a month on Spotify. They call it an ‘art hoax'—  but predict the day will soon come when there will be an AI-generated hit, and listeners won't care because they like the music."

The band in question is Velvet Sundown, and the track is titled Dust On the Wind. 

The song and recording were created entirely using the AI music platform Suno.

My take:

My crystal ball is currently in for repairs— but if I had to guess, I'd say...

We're on the brink of a cultural shift as massive and irreversible as the dawn of the computer age.

The next generation will grow up with artificial intelligence embedded into nearly every aspect of creative life.

It won't stop at songs and recordings.

We're talking books, magazines, paintings, vocal performances, film scores, and even  medical research— all at least partially AI-generated.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Probably both.

Like all seismic changes, the transition will be rocky. We've never faced anything quite like this— and neither has any creative industry.

In the past, I often argued that AI could only mimic what already exists. It could never create something truly new— a genre, a sound, a cultural movement.

I pointed to artists like The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, or Nirvana— or entire genres like jazz or hip hop— and said AI could never have originated those.

But I've changed my mind.

It now seems not only feasible but likely that the next global musical phenomenon could come from AI— not despite its artificial origins, but because of them.
 
Note: Right now, most publishers and sync licensing agencies still steer clear of AI-generated work. But that resistance won't last forever. As with so many other  innovations, once the public embraces it, the industry will follow.

Time will tell.

It's worth remembering: many inventions we now take for granted were originally  dismissed or ridiculed. The printing press was once feared. Airplanes were written off as "scientific toys." The bicycle was considered a passing fad. Cars were mocked as impractical. Even the telephone and the umbrella were met with skepticism.

The future always looks strange until it becomes the present.

FYI, this article was written with the help of AI. I provided the basic info and AI did the rest!

About Jason Blume
Jason Blume is one of the rare and remarkable Songwriters to ever achieve the "triple crown" of songwriting success— having written songs that have been recorded by pop, country, and R&B legends alike, including Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and the Oak Ridge Boys. But Blume is more than a hitmaker— he's a passionate teacher, mentor, and advocate for Songwriters at every level.

Through his popular workshops, books, and articles, Jason has taught thousands of aspiring and professional writers how to craft emotionally impactful, commercially viable songs. His website is a treasure trove of insightful resources, and his free newsletter offers ongoing inspiration and real-world advice direct from someone who's been there— and still is.

Whether you're chasing your first cut or your next hit, Jason Blume is a trusted voice who brings both heart and hard-won wisdom to the art and business of songwriting.

Explore more at: www.jasonblume.com

• PS from PS— You Are Not Your Tools (And Never Were)

Thinking about John Fogg's piece in this issue where he calls the whole 'To AI or Not to AI?' debate a stupid question... At first, that struck me as a tad harsh. But then I watched another brilliant artist friend spiral into creative paralysis over whether using AI made her "inauthentic," and I realized John's absolutely right.

The question is the problem.

I've been sitting in coffee shops and other places for months now, witnessing this same tortured scene: artists I dearly respect deleting AI-generated ideas, their faces carrying that particular exhaustion that comes from fighting battles you can't quite articulate. Fear masquerading as principle. Rigid thinking disguised as artistic integrity.

Here's what I've learned from watching: 

Your creativity was never housed in your tools anyway.

When you pick up a guitar, are you somehow diminished because you didn't wind the strings yourself? When you use a synthesizer, does your melody become less yours because the sound emerged from circuits instead of columns of air or strings or...?

John nails it when he describes AI as 'a hyper-speed record producer with total recall and no ego.' It's not replacing your inspiration— it's fueling it. What it offers isn't your voice, but a conversation partner that helps you discover what your voice actually wants to say in a new for you.

I watched this transformation firsthand with Chrissy, a Songwriter who'd been stuck in creative quicksand. For months. She finally fed her half-finished lyrics into an AI. Not seeking completion. Provocation. What came back wasn't her song— it was a mirror showing her what her song could become. She kept what served her vision. Discarded what didn't.

The final piece was more authentically her than anything Chrissy'd written in years.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: 

You've never been creating in isolation. 

Every chord progression carries DNA from songs you've loved. Every lyrical turn reflects conversations overheard. Heartbreaks shared. AI just makes this collaboration visible, immediate, undeniably external.

Your voice remains yours. Your truth remains yours. That indefinable creative force that makes your work recognizable— that's not going anywhere.

AI doesn't diminish you. It amplifies what's already there.

Stop fighting the amplification. Start turning it up.

Until we speak again...

Thanks for reading. Give us your feedback.

And PLEASE, if you've got any Singer Songwriter friends, pass the AMP on, because... It’s Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time...