The music industry has been wrestling with the pros and cons of AI that can create professional-sounding songs in seconds
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Spotify Technology SA will soon begin identifying artist profiles created by artificial intelligence with a new “AI Personas” label in an effort to bring more transparency to listeners about who’s behind the music.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
The world’s largest music streaming service said it wants customers to know which artists are real humans and which ones are artificial. The company won’t recommend songs from these AI Personas in suggested playlists unless listeners specifically choose to receive them.
Starting Aug. 11, Spotify will allow artists to identify themselves as AI-generated. The labels will begin appearing on artist profiles starting in mid-September. Spotify will also root out profiles it suspects represent “photorealistic AI-generated identities” if they weren’t self-reported, and users can flag artists they think were AI-generated. Artists who believe they were mislabelled will have a chance to appeal.
Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.
“Listeners have been clear in telling us that they don’t like seeing an artist profile that seems human, only to find out that the persona is AI-generated,” the company said in announcing the initiative on Tuesday. “Listeners need to be able to trust that the artist behind the music is who they say they are. That’s more essential than ever in the age of generative AI.”
While much of the music on these AI Persona profiles is likely also generated by AI, the intention of the label is less about the songs and more about ensuring consumers know whether artists are humans or not. Last year, for example, a fake band called the Velvet Sundown sparked a debate about transparency when streams of the group’s music took off and the creators distributed AI-generated photos of the imaginary musicians.