Artificial creations by Spotify featuring deceased musicians ignite new controversy over perceived exploitation of the dead.
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In the rapidly evolving world of music streaming, one platform is standing out for its commitment to transparency and artist rights: Deezer. The French streaming service has developed a proprietary detection tool that identifies and labels AI-generated songs, setting a new standard in the industry.
Deezer's chief innovation officer, Aurélien Hérault, revealed that about 18-20% of daily uploads to Deezer are AI-generated songs. To combat this, the company actively segregates such content to protect artist remuneration and user experience. Deezer aims to increase transparency by helping listeners customize their experience and avoid AI-generated music if they prefer.
In contrast, Spotify, a major player in the music streaming industry, currently does not publicly disclose how much of its library is AI-generated nor does it have a clear system to label AI-generated music. This lack of transparency has led to controversies, most notably with the emergence of fully AI-generated acts like The Velvet Sundown, which gained large audiences without disclosure, confusing listeners about authenticity.
The lack of transparent labeling or identification of AI-generated content on Spotify has frustrated both consumers and human artists. Allegations have been made that Spotify promotes AI or ghost artists on playlists to minimize royalty payments to human creators.
Legal and ethical challenges related to AI music fraud are also a concern. AI-generated songs are streamed massively with bot farms to claim royalties fraudulently, as noted in industry-wide concerns. Deezer, for instance, has been proactive in fighting such fraud.
Sophie Jones, the chief strategy officer at the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), has called for new protections for creators, arguing that streaming platforms should start labeling AI-generated content to give creators a fair shot. Jones stated that AI-generated bands and music entering the market are a result of tech companies training AI models using creative works without authorization or payment to creators and rights-holders.
Deezer's CEO Alexis Lanternier echoed these sentiments, stating in June that the company is committed to safeguarding the rights of artists and songwriters at a time where copyright law is being questioned in favor of training AI models. Lanternier emphasized that AI is not inherently good or bad, but a responsible and transparent approach is crucial.
Another concern raised by Jones is that deceiving listeners with AI-generated profiles and songs is a form of misinformation that risks ruining the reputation of human artists. This was evident last month when an AI-generated band called The Velvet Sundown popped up on Spotify, with their top track, "Dust on the Wind," being played almost 2 million times since its release on June 20.
Spotify removed the unauthorised tracks after 404 Media's report was published. Similar incidents involving AI-generated songs linked to company accounts like Syntax Error, such as "Together," a song appearing on the official page of Blake Foley (a deceased country singer), and "Happened To You," a song supposedly performed by Guy Clark (a deceased Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter), have also been reported.
As the use of AI in music continues to grow, the debate over transparency, artist rights, and the authenticity of music on streaming platforms will undoubtedly continue. Deezer's proactive approach to identifying and labelling AI-generated music serves as a model for other platforms to follow, ensuring a fair and transparent music streaming ecosystem for all.
[1] Deezer Blog: https://blog.deezer.com/deezer-ai-music-generation-taking-responsibility-for-the-future-of-music/ [2] The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/09/deezer-ai-music-generation-alexis-lanternier-interview [3] 404 Media: https://404media.co/2022/06/16/spotify-removes-ai-generated-songs-after-404-media-report/ [4] Music Business Worldwide: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/deezer-develops-algorithm-to-identify-ai-generated-music/
- Deezer's commitment to transparency and artist rights is evident in its usage of artificial intelligence, as it has developed a tool that identifies and labels AI-generated songs, setting a new standard in the music streaming industry.
- The lack of transparency in identifying and labeling AI-generated music on Spotify, compared to Deezer's approach, has sparked concerns about artist rights, royalty payments, and the authenticity of music on streaming platforms.
