AI-generated music attributed to deceased musicians getting removed from Spotify

In a recent development, the music streaming platform Spotify has found itself at the centre of controversy over the publication of AI-generated music. The Guardian reported that while streaming services like Spotify are not legally obligated to identify AI-generated music, many listeners and music professionals are advocating for government intervention.

The controversy began when a new AI-generated song titled "Together" was published on the Spotify page of country music singer-songwriter Blaze Foley, who died almost 40 years ago. The song, which displayed characteristics typical of a Foley song, featuring a male country singer, piano, and electric guitar, and sounding like a "new, slow country song," raised concerns about content authenticity and platform responsibility.

Upon discovery, Spotify removed "Together" from Foley's Spotify page, citing violation of its deceptive content policies. However, the platform does not currently feature a specific tag to identify AI-generated music, a feature many listeners desire. This lack of transparency has led to concerns about the overall urgency of the platform in addressing AI-generated music.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is calling on the UK government to protect copyright and introduce new transparency obligations for AI companies, as well as calling for the clear labelling of content solely generated by AI. Sophie Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at the BPI, articulated the organization's position to The Guardian.

"AI-generated music has the potential to undermine the creative rights of artists and the integrity of the music industry," Jones said. "We believe it is crucial that the government takes action to ensure that AI-generated music is clearly labelled and that copyright is protected."

Spotify's spokesperson stated the platform's intent to take action against licensors and distributors who fail to police for AI-generated music fraud. The company is also under pressure from users to implement an "AI filter" to prevent such incidents in the future.

On a Reddit thread discussing the matter, one user reported finding three AI-generated songs in their Discover Weekly playlist, while another suggested that Spotify implement an "AI filter" immediately. The emergence of AI-generated music has contributed to an ongoing debate within the music industry, with bands such as The Velvet Sundown and TaTa being entirely composed through artificial intelligence.

The publication and subsequent removal of "Together" from Foley's Spotify page were also reported by 404 Media. Craig McDonald, owner of Lost Art Records, Foley's music label, stated that "Together" is not Blaze Foley's work and has nothing to do with the authentic Blaze Foley.

The AI-generated images used for the songs did not resemble the artists, further fuelling concerns about the authenticity of the music. Spotify's policies prohibit impersonation intended to mislead, including replicating a creator's name, image, or description, or deceptively posing as a person, brand, or organization.

As the music industry grapples with the implications of AI-generated music, it remains to be seen how platforms like Spotify will respond and what regulations will be put in place to protect the rights of artists and maintain the integrity of the music industry.

AI-generated music attributed to deceased musicians getting removed from Spotify