Musical Discourse in the Algorithmic Era: Authenticity Amid Digital Interactivity

This article critically examines the transformation of musical discourse in the contemporary algorithmic era, where digital interactivity and artificial intelligence increasingly mediate creative processes, modes of circulation, and patterns of reception. Rather than approaching digitization as a purely technical phenomenon, the study adopts a conceptual and interdisciplinary perspective to analyze how algorithmic systems reshape the ontological status of music, the epistemology of creativity, and the cultural meanings attached to musical production. It argues that algorithmic mediation has displaced the traditional, human-centered model of musical authorship in favor of a distributed form of creativity involving composers, performers, listeners, software architectures, and platform algorithms. This shift destabilizes conventional notions of authenticity, originality, and cultural specificity, while simultaneously exposing the limitations of existing intellectual property regimes. Drawing on digital musicology, science and technology studies (STS), and critical algorithm studies, the article highlights the tension between algorithmic standardization and cultural diversity, particularly within global streaming ecosystems. Special attention is given to the implications for non-Western musical traditions, including Arab maqam systems, which face unique challenges in algorithmically curated environments. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a critically reflexive digital musical praxis that recognizes technological innovation as a cultural and ethical challenge rather than a neutral advancement.