Is That Even a Real Song? AI Tracks Are Taking Over Spotify and YouTube

The rise of AI-generated music has sparked alarm among artists and listeners alike, especially as revenue projections suggest it could account for 20% of all streaming platform income by 2028, according to a study by France’s International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers.

Entirely Fake Albums

Spanish newspaper El País uncovered an entirely fake album titled Rumba Congo (1973) on YouTube. While YouTube requires creators to disclose when realistic content is AI-generated, this disclosure often goes unnoticed, especially on desktop platforms where users must scroll to the bottom of video descriptions to find it.

No Clear Labels on Spotify

Spotify, the world’s largest audio streaming platform, has yet to implement a public policy to label AI-generated tracks. This omission has frustrated users, with petitions circulating on Spotify Community forums demanding transparency and an opt-out feature for AI-created content. Many users feel deceived when they unknowingly listen to machine-produced music.

Human Connection at Risk

María Teresa Llano, associate professor at the University of Sussex, emphasizes the emotional disconnect inherent in AI music. “In the arts, we can establish a connection with the artist; we can learn about their life and what influenced them… With artificial intelligence, that connection no longer exists,” she said.

Spotify Defends the Creative Potential

Spotify’s co-president Gustav Söderström has defended the use of AI, noting that it lowers the barriers to creativity. He distinguishes between fully AI-generated tracks and those that incorporate AI tools to some extent. Still, he acknowledged that copyright infringement remains one of the few limits on AI music, an issue that remains difficult to prove.