Staff Reports
Scott Borchetta, the chairman and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, walked onto the stage at Middle Tennessee State University to give a commencement speech. He talked about the future of music, technology and artificial intelligence. Instead of applause, some graduates booed when he praised AI. The short video of the exchange went viral and raised a bigger question: are young people rejecting tools that could help them build careers?
What happened at the MTSU commencement
During the ceremony at the Murphy Athletic Center, Borchetta told graduates that “AI is rewriting production as we sit here.” A chorus of boos answered him. The crowd included students from the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment — yes, the very college named for the man whose name is on their diplomas. He didn’t flinch. He kept speaking about streaming, social media, and how the entertainment business keeps changing faster than people expect.
Borchetta’s sharp reply and practical advice
Borchetta pushed back with a line that sounded less like a speech and more like a business class: “You can hear me now or pay me later.” He urged graduates to treat AI as a tool, not an enemy, and to “invest in the skill and art of creation.” He reminded them that platforms and systems come and go, but great content and storytelling remain valuable. That’s the kind of advice a CEO gives — blunt, practical and focused on survival in a noisy industry.
This is part of a larger trend — and it’s telling
It’s not just MTSU. This graduation season has seen several commencement speakers get booed when they spoke positively about AI. The pattern points to real anxiety among young people who worry about jobs, art and their futures. But booing the person who helped fund your college and put his name on your degree is more theater than strategy. A tool doesn’t become malevolent because someone uses it; policies and choices do. Students should be asking how to shape AI with skill and law, not how to stage a protest for a clip on social media.
Why this matters beyond a viral moment: America needs creators, not technophobes dressed up as activists. Conservatives should welcome the chance to steer the debate toward responsibility, competition and real protections for workers and artists. Borchetta’s point was simple — master your craft, learn the tools, and you’ll adapt. If graduates want a future where creativity pays, they might try listening before booing. The ceremony was a reminder that the real fight over AI will be fought with talent and policy, not sound bites and viral boos.
