Hmm..

...well for starters, ammo for innovating music production can be in the form of samples/sounds, music listening background, what physicial machines you are using and finally how to use them.

How to get to the innovation?.....experimentation i suppose.

Where do you draw the line on copying other people's work? Same samples; same basslines or rhythm patterns? Its a very personal question as everyone has their standards are vastly different.

If copying happens subconciously and you won't give up listening to your fav artists. then an artist must conciously look at how to make there music individual.

I think thats why drugs have a big part to play in triggering music creation, 'cos then your imagination isn't really limited to what your listeing to and you think outside the box.