# Exploring the Collaborative Co-Creation Process with AI: A Case Study in Novice Music Production

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.15276 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.15276/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 5 of its 75 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 25 Jan 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [AI-Augmented Brainwriting: Investigating the use of LLMs in group ideation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.14978/) (2024)
- [Counterpoint by Convolution](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1903.07227/) (2019)
- [CreativeConnect: Supporting Reference Recombination for Graphic Design Ideation with Generative AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.11949/) (2023)
- [TeleMelody: Lyric-to-Melody Generation with a Template-Based Two-Stage Method](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.09617/) (2021)
- [From Text to Self: Users' Perceptions of Potential of AI on Interpersonal Communication and Self](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.03976/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [Supporting Students' Reading and Cognition with AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.13900/) (2025)
- [AI-Assisted Music Production: A User Study on Text-to-Music Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.23364/) (2025)
- [CoLyricist: Enhancing Lyric Writing with AI through Workflow-Aligned Support](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.22606/) (2026)
- [MixAssist: An Audio-Language Dataset for Co-Creative AI Assistance in Music Mixing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.06329/) (2025)
- ["Everyone's using it, but no one is allowed to talk about it": College Students' Experiences Navigating the Higher Education Environment in a Generative AI World](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.17720/) (2026)
- [It`s All About Speed: AI`s Impact on Workflow in Music Production](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.29931/) (2026)
- [Collective creativity in hybrid societies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.02620/) (2026)
- [MAIA: Multi-Agent Intent Articulation for Requirement Discovery in Art Commissions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.12097/) (2026)
- [Ownership in AI-Assisted Everyday Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.20658/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Artificial intelligence is reshaping creative domains, yet its co-creative processes, especially in group settings with novice users, remain under explored. To bridge this gap, we conducted a case study in a college-level course where nine undergraduate students were tasked with creating three original music tracks using AI tools over 10 weeks. The study spanned the entire creative journey from ideation to releasing these songs on Spotify. Participants leveraged AI for music and lyric production, cover art, and distribution. Our findings highlight how AI transforms creative workflows: accelerating ideation but compressing the traditional preparation stage, and requiring novices to navigate a challenging idea selection and validation phase. We also identified a new "collaging and refinement" stage, where participants creatively combined diverse AI-generated outputs into cohesive works. Furthermore, AI influenced group social dynamics and role division among human creators. Based on these insights, we propose the Human-AI Co-Creation Stage Model and the Human-AI Agency Model, offering new perspectives on collaborative co-creation with AI.