Framing AI-Generated Music in Swedish News Media: A Qualitative Analysis (2024-2026)

Sammanfattning

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly affects cultural productions, it is important to understand how this technology is represented in news media. Thus, this study examines how AI-generated music is framed in Swedish news media. The study aims to identify and analyze the dominant frames used in news coverage of AI-generated music, as such frames may influence public perception and the future development of emerging technologies. The central research question is: What dominant frames characterize news media coverage of AI-generated music? The theoretical framework of the study is based on framing theory, developed by Entman (1993), who conceptualized framing devices. Additional theories used in the study include theories of media discourse and representation, which allow a deeper understanding of how meaning is constructed through language, recurring expressions, and cultural codes in news media. The study is based on a qualitative framing analysis of Swedish news articles published between January 2024 and March 2026. The articles were collected through the Retriever database and resulted in a total of 936 articles related to AI-generated music. From this dataset, a random sample of 30 articles was selected for in-depth analysis. In order to analyze the articles, this study uses an inductive approach and a frame matrix. The frame matrix is used to identify recurring patterns through coding of keywords/metaphors, problem definitions, causes, moral evaluations, suggested solutions, and important actors. The study identified five dominant frames: “AI as a threat to artists and the music industry”, “AI as an unethical and legal problem”, “AI as low-quality and inauthentic music”, “AI as technological progressions and opportunity”, and “AI as a tool supporting human creativity”. The findings demonstrate a dominance of risk-oriented frames (which in this study refers to threats and risks associated with the use of this technology). The risk-oriented frames emphasize economic, legal, or cultural concerns. However, opportunity-oriented frames (which refers to opportunities associated with the use of AI) are also included, although they tend to be more nuanced and less prominent. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that AI-generated music is framed through competing narratives, which position the technology as a disruptive threat and as a creative opportunity. The findings revealed in this study contribute to a broader understanding of how emerging technologies are framed in news media and highlight the role of framing in shaping public discourse about artificial intelligence in cultural production.