JOHANNESBERG, May 20 – Spotify is developing new disclosure tools that would allow listeners to see when artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the creation of songs, as streaming platforms face growing pressure to address authenticity and fraud concerns linked to AI-generated music.
The company is testing a feature known as AI credits, which would let artists and labels disclose whether AI was involved in songwriting, production or instrumentation, according to Bryan Johnson, Spotify’s Head of Artist & Industry Partnerships.
“The information is delivered from the artist or songwriter to the distributor label, and they deliver it to Spotify, and we can surface that on the artist page,” Johnson said during an event at Spotify’s new South African office in Johannesburg.
The move follows a surge in AI-generated uploads across streaming platforms. Deezer said AI-created tracks now account for 44% of all new music uploaded to its platform, while 97% of users surveyed by the company could not distinguish between AI-generated and human-made songs.
Spotify has also intensified efforts to curb spam and deceptive uploads as AI tools make it easier to mass-produce music. Johnson said the company removed 75 million spam-related tracks over the past year.
The platform’s spam detection system flags mass uploads, duplicate tracks, artificially short songs and other manipulative tactics designed to exploit recommendation algorithms.
Spotify is simultaneously tightening its artist verification process. Under its new “Verified by Spotify” system, musicians must demonstrate sustained listener engagement and evidence of real-world artistic activity, including performances, ticket sales or merchandise sales, before receiving verification badges.
The changes come as AI-generated songs become increasingly difficult to identify as a recent example was an AI-created afro-soul remix of Belgian artist Stromae’s 2013 track “Papaoutai,” which drew nearly 140 million Spotify streams without many listeners realising the song had been AI-generated.
