Artificial songs manufactured by Spotify using deceased artists' works elicit renewed indignation over perceived exploitation
In the rapidly evolving world of music streaming, a new challenge has emerged: the use of artificially generated songs created by AI. This form of misinformation poses a significant risk to the reputation of human artists and the music industry as a whole.
Streaming platforms, such as Deezer and Spotify, are grappling with this issue. Deezer, a pioneer in this area, has taken a proactive approach by clearly labeling AI-generated content. This move towards transparency was initiated by Deezer, as reported by various sources.
Deezer's approach involves the use of in-house technology that detects subtle but recognizable audio patterns produced by AI song generators. When such tracks are detected, Deezer displays an on-screen label stating “AI-generated content” on its app and website to notify listeners that some songs on an album were created using AI.
This system is part of Deezer’s transparency efforts to combat streaming fraud where AI-generated music might be used to generate undue royalties. Deezer is reportedly the first streaming platform to leverage AI detection specifically for labeling fully AI-generated tracks, flagging up to 18% of daily uploads as such since the feature's rollout in June 2025.
In comparison, Spotify does not label the tracks or any other music as AI-generated. The company's approach to AI-generated content remains unclear, as direct details on how Spotify identifies or labels such songs are not readily available.
Meanwhile, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has called for new protections for creators and rights-holders due to AI-generated music entering the market. The BPI's chief strategy officer, Sophie Jones, emphasizes the importance of transparency and fairness for human artists in the face of AI-generated competition.
The issue of AI-generated music has sparked widespread backlash due to concerns about copyright infringement and competition for streams, potentially reducing the share of royalties available to human artists. AI-generated tracks are created using creative works without authorization or payment to creators and rights-holders.
Recent incidents have highlighted the potential problems. Last month, an AI-generated band called the Velvet Sundown popped up on Spotify. The company responsible for "Together," one of the AI-generated songs, is Syntax Error. However, AI-generated tracks on Spotify have been published under the names of dead musicians without approval from their estates or labels. For instance, "Together" appeared on the official page of Blake Foley, a country singer who was murdered in 1989.
The AI-generated song "Happened To You," which was linked to Syntax Error and supposedly performed by Guy Clark, a Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter who died in 2016, is another example. "Dust on the Wind," an AI-generated track that sounds similar to the 1977 Kansas hit "Dust in the Wind," has been played almost 2 million times since its release on June 20.
The laissez-faire approach taken by Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, towards managing AI-generated content has been met with criticism. In contrast, Deezer's CEO, Alexis Lanternier, believes in a responsible and transparent approach to AI-generated content to build trust with users and the music industry. Deezer is also committed to safeguarding the rights of artists and songwriters at a time where copyright law is being questioned in favor of training AI models.
As the music industry navigates this new terrain, it's clear that a responsible and transparent approach is key to building trust and preserving the rights of human artists. Deezer's initiative to identify and label AI-generated content sets a precedent for other streaming platforms to follow.
The Deezer platform, in its proactive approach, utilizes in-house technology to detect AI-generated content, which it then labels as such to maintain transparency and combat streaming fraud. In contrast, Spotify's strategy regarding AI-generated music remains ambiguous, as the platform does not currently label such content.
