“We got this wrong… We do not support AI-generated…

D’Addario has officially admitted that its promotional video for NYXL HD extended-range guitar strings utilized music generated by Suno Studio. This acknowledgment follows a period of intense public scrutiny and initial denials from the company, which had previously claimed no AI involvement was present.

What happened

The controversy began when online observers and prominent YouTubers, including Danny Sapko and Rhett Shull, identified characteristics of generative AI in the demo video’s instrumental prog metal track. Despite D’Addario’s efforts to defend the content—including releasing a video showcasing a DAW with stem files to suggest human production—the public backlash continued. The situation escalated as D’Addario began deleting critical comments, a practice the company later admitted was a mistake in its moderation process. The brand eventually confirmed that Suno Studio was used to regenerate the original track and apologized for sharing inaccurate information.

Following the admission, D’Addario stated that it does not support AI-generated music and announced a shift in its internal policies. The company now requires employees and creative partners to disclose the use of generative AI in any content, which will be subject to a strict review process. D’Addario emphasized that it is working to rebuild trust with the musician community by ensuring transparency in its future marketing and content creation.