Abstract
This special issue focuses on research developments and critical thought in the domain of artificial intelligence (AI) applied to modeling and creating music. It is motivated by the AI Song Contests of 2020 and 2021, in which the four guest editors adjudicated or participated among many teams from around the world. The 2020 edition had 13 submissions and the 2021 edition had 38. The 2022 edition is now being planned. These unique events provide exciting opportunities for AI music researchers to test the state of the art and push the boundaries of what is possible, within the context of music creation. They portend a future when humans and machines work together as partners in music creation. Maybe “portend” is not the right term, but we must not think that the future of AI and music is only warm and fuzzy. It is important and timely to consider how we, in local and global contexts, can effectively and ethically develop and apply AI in contexts of music creation.