Spotify is finally doing something to combat AI music, but is it enough?
Better late than never, or too little, too late?
by Ioan Hazell · What Hi-Fi?
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Spotify has announced that it will join the crackdown on AI music by labelling AI-generated accounts and removing them from algorithmic recommendations, starting this September.
Following in the footsteps of other streaming platforms, including Qobuz, Deezer and Tidal, which have all taken measures against AI music, Spotify says that AI-generated artist profiles will see their content labelled with an ‘AI Persona’ badge.
According to Spotify, ‘AI Personas’ will be automatically excluded from editorial and algorithmic recommendations, meaning that users won’t be recommended music flagged as AI-generated, unless they specifically follow labelled accounts.
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Artists can already share if their profile represents an AI persona through Spotify for Artists, but the streaming platform says it will not rely solely on self-disclosure. From mid September, the ‘AI Persona’ badge will also appear on accounts that Spotify’s review team suspects represent AI identities.
The review process will take into account names and imagery associated with the account, but, notably, will not consider the method of the music’s creation. According to Spotify: “The badge is about the artist’s public identity, not about how the music was made.”
Once an account has been labelled as an ‘AI Persona’, artists will be notified and given the opportunity to either self-disclose or appeal the decision. Spotify says that in the coming months it will also “give listeners the ability to report artist profiles they believe represent AI personas”.
Spotify has already taken some action against AI music. Last year, the platform removed 75 million AI-generated tracks and features a ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge for human artists as well as an ‘AI Credits’ badge, which allows artists to disclose how AI has been used in their creative process.
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According to Spotify, “tens of thousands” of AI Credits are submitted daily.
While it is refreshing to see the world’s largest streaming platform taking action against AI music, the scheme will still allow AI-generated music to be remunerated, meaning that royalties will continue to be allocated to people who aren’t, in the traditional sense, creating the music themselves.
Other platforms have taken more extreme measures. Tidal blocks tracks that are 100 per cent AI-generated from earning any money, while Qobuz has pledged to remove AI music upon detection.
According to Spotify: “AI Persona badges are part of our broader efforts to make Spotify the most transparent and trustworthy place to listen to music.”
Is this latest step enough to secure that goal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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