By Vicky Sidler | Published 31 October 2025 at 12:00 GMT+2

When pop star Charlie Puth says AI will never replace human-made music, he isn’t being dramatic. He’s being observant. In a recent reel, he pointed out that what makes music powerful isn’t technical precision—it’s the tiny flaws. The missed chord. The uneven tempo. The stuff no algorithm would dare leave in.

According to Puth, AI drums sound bland because they’re too perfect. There’s no personality in a beat that never slips or swings. He even reminds us that in Hey Jude, Paul McCartney swore mid-recording after hitting the wrong chord—and they left it in. The Beatles didn’t hide their humanity. They built a legacy on it.

TL;DR:

• AI makes music too clean to feel real

• Imperfections—like tempo changes or offbeat moments—create emotion

• Authenticity beats precision in music and in marketing

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Table of Contents:

The Magic of a Missed Note:

Puth’s point about Kanye West’s Stronger hits home. The song uses an open hi-hat where a snare should be. It shouldn’t work—but it does. That kind of rule-breaking gives the song its edge.

AI, on the other hand, removes what it doesn’t understand. It edits out the stumbles, flattens the tempo, and delivers something technically flawless but emotionally empty. It’s like a speech that sounds great on paper but makes you feel nothing.

As Puth puts it, “Music was meant to breathe.” When Earth, Wind & Fire recorded September, the song actually speeds up as it goes. You’d never notice unless someone told you. But that rising energy pulls you in. It feels alive because it is.

What This Teaches Small Business Owners:

You don’t need to be a songwriter to relate. Many small business owners try to make their marketing “perfect.” They polish every sentence, adjust every pixel, and overthink every word. But the truth is, people don’t connect with perfect. They connect with real.

That small typo in your social post? The unfiltered video you almost didn’t upload? The behind-the-scenes photo where your desk is a mess? Those are the things that make your brand human.

When you chase perfection, you risk losing the quirks that make your story interesting. AI can help you refine your ideas, but it can’t feel your passion. It doesn’t know what it’s like to fail, recover, and keep showing up anyway.

The Balance Between Precision and Personality:

Puth isn’t saying he’s against AI. He’s just saying it needs a partner. Technology should serve creativity, not sterilise it. The same goes for your marketing tools.

Use AI to structure your content, not to replace your voice. Let it suggest headlines or fix grammar, but keep the raw edges that make you sound human. Because the goal isn’t to sound perfect. It’s to sound true.

That’s what makes art resonate—and what makes brands memorable.

If your message feels robotic, maybe it’s time to let a little humanity back in.

Download my 5-Minute Marketing Fix to learn how to write a simple, authentic one-liner that connects—no auto-tune required.

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2. AI Tools Aren't Replacing Designers—Here's Why Not

If AI music sounds soulless, AI design often looks it. This article breaks down why AI-generated visuals are still bland and predictable three years in, and why real designers—like real drummers—still matter for creating memorable work.

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FAQs on AI, Music, and Human Creativity

1. Why does Charlie Puth think AI can’t replace human-made music?

Charlie Puth believes AI will never fully replace human-made music because it removes the small imperfections that make songs feel alive. He points out that human flaws—like missed notes, tempo shifts, and spontaneous energy—create emotion and connection in ways machines can’t replicate.

2. What are examples of imperfections that make music better?

Puth gives a few: Paul McCartney’s accidental curse in Hey Jude, the open hi-hat in Kanye West’s Stronger, and the tempo changes in September by Earth, Wind & Fire. Each moment breaks the “rules” yet makes the music more memorable.

3. How does this idea relate to marketing and business?

Just like music, marketing works best when it feels authentic. Small imperfections—like unscripted moments in a video or a slightly rough social post—help your audience trust you. Over-editing or relying too heavily on AI can make your brand feel distant and robotic.

4. Should small businesses still use AI tools?

Yes, but with balance. AI is great for organising ideas, cleaning up copy, or handling repetitive tasks. The key is to use it as an assistant, not a replacement for your voice. AI should help you express your ideas more clearly, not erase what makes them yours.

5. Why are imperfections important in marketing?

Imperfections signal honesty. They show your audience that a real person is behind the message. People don’t connect with perfect—they connect with relatable, genuine stories. That’s how brands build trust and loyalty.

6. How can small business owners find the right balance between AI and authenticity?

Let AI do the technical work, but always review the final result through your own lens. If something feels “too clean” or emotionless, tweak it until it sounds like you. The goal isn’t to be flawless—it’s to be real.

7. What’s the main takeaway from Charlie Puth’s message for business owners?

Creativity isn’t about perfection. Whether you’re making music or marketing, what matters most is how your work makes people feel. Human quirks, mistakes, and emotion create connection—and that’s something no algorithm can reproduce.

8. How can I make my marketing sound more human?

Start with a clear, simple message that reflects what your business truly stands for. Speak like you’d talk to a friend. Avoid over-polished, jargon-heavy copy. And if you need help finding your voice, try the free tool I created—

👉Download the 5-Minute Marketing Fix to write one authentic sentence that connects across every channel.