Fender CEO Draws Backlash Over ‘Analog AI’ Remarks

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation named Edward “Bud” Cole chief executive on Jan. 6, 2026, with his tenure beginning in mid-February. The maker of the Telecaster and Stratocaster relies on musicians, cover performers and independent builders as customers and cultural advocates. That makes Cole’s stance on artificial intelligence especially sensitive as the music industry debates whether generative tools support creativity or diminish human skill and authorship.

In a T3 interview published May 18, Cole said cover music had long been “sort of analog AI” and described bandmates as another analog aid for would-be songwriters. Guitar World revived the remarks on July 29, prompting criticism from guitarist Rhett Shull, JHS Pedals founder Josh Scott and others. The backlash compounds anger over Fender’s cease-and-desist campaign targeting guitars it says closely copy the Stratocaster body shape, fueling calls among some players and creators to boycott the brand.