Borchetta framed AI as a tool like music streaming, arguing he turned that industry upheaval into opportunity when Spotify disrupted the record business.
The backlash sharpened when students appeared to hear that analogy as advice to adapt to a system that could shrink their prospects while benefiting executives and established winners.
MTSU recently named its media college after Borchetta following his $15 million donation; the Big Machine founder is estimated in the report to be worth about $450 million.
The speech lands amid wider anxiety over AI and entry-level jobs, with the report citing New York Fed survey data showing 90% of CEOs are already deploying AI.
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