"'I feel gross' a good friend says in response to me telling her that the music she sent me for Samhain blessings was generative AI."
Your friend's intent to send you blessings was pure, and sweet. And, if she liked the song, hey... there's nothing wrong with that. We like what we like. Sure, there's more 'soul' in music produced by humans rather than AI, as that music has lyrics infused with genuine human experience and emotions, which can be mimicked but never truly copied (in my humble opinion, of course). I don't think she should feel gross, or any other negative emotion, for liking the song, nor sending it.
I value music greatly, and it would tick me off, majorly, if AI-music became such a thing that hardworking musicians begin to suffer from its presence. That one guy who made millions farming AI content as something he created is frustrating and such a disgrace. 😠 But, a one-off, here-and-there song doesn't ruffle my feathers.
That Jeff Buckley, though — what raw emotion! 😯 ✌️