Listeners who use Spotify will soon be able to distinguish between music created by real artists and those generated by artificial intelligence, as the platform introduces a new label to identify AI personas. This move is part of a broader effort to crack down on fake performers, who have been flooding the platform with AI-generated music. From September, AI-generated artists, such as the Velvet Sundown, will carry the "AI persona" label on their profiles and track listings, and will be blocked from personalized recommendations by default.
The aim of this initiative is to protect real performers from losing out on streams to artificial rivals, and to build trust with listeners. Spotify has stated that "true artist-fan connection can only be built on a foundation of trust and authenticity," and that this is particularly important in the age of generative AI. The company has already taken steps to address the issue of fake music, having removed 75 million spam tracks from its platform over the past year. Spotify's legitimate catalogue currently stands at 100 million tracks.
While Spotify will allow music creators to self-disclose if their identities are AI-created, the company will not rely solely on this method. Instead, it will use a combination of human review and AI investigative tools to determine if artists are fake. This approach is necessary, as AI-generated profiles are often used as a front for AI-made tracks. Listeners have made it clear that they do not like being misled by artist profiles that appear to be human, only to discover that they are actually AI-generated.
The issue of AI-generated music has been a topic of debate in recent years, with several high-profile cases highlighting the problem. For example, the Velvet Sundown, a 70s-style US rock band, was revealed to be an AI creation, despite initially presenting itself as a human band. Similarly, Sienna Rose, a soul singer who entered Spotify's viral top 50, was found to be a likely AI-generated artist, having never played a gig or released any videos despite releasing a large amount of material over a short period. The Spotify profiles for these artists do not currently clarify their AI status, but this will change with the introduction of the new label.
As the music streaming landscape continues to evolve, Spotify's decision to label AI personas is a significant step towards promoting transparency and authenticity. By giving listeners the information they need to make informed choices about the music they listen to, Spotify is helping to build trust and ensure that real artists are able to reach their audiences without being overshadowed by artificial rivals. The introduction of the "AI persona" label is a positive development for the music industry, and will likely have a significant impact on the way that listeners interact with music streaming platforms in the future.
