Artificial compositions by deceased musicians ignite a new wave of protest due to alleged exploitation by Spotify
In the ever-evolving world of music streaming, a new debate has emerged: the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in music creation. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has called for new protections for creators against AI-generated music, citing concerns about copyright infringement and competition for streams.
One streaming platform, Deezer, has taken a stand in this issue. Deezer's CEO, Alexis Lanternier, has stated that AI is not inherently good or bad, but a responsible and transparent approach is key to building trust with users and the music industry. Deezer has developed an algorithm that can identify artificially created songs made using several popular generative AI models, including Suno and Udio. This algorithm is used to flag AI-generated tracks with an on-screen label "AI-generated content", informing users and removing these tracks from Deezer-branded playlists and recommendation algorithms.
This approach of clearly labeling AI-generated content was pioneered by Deezer. In contrast, Spotify, another major streaming platform, does not publicly implement a similar explicit detection and labeling system. Reports suggest Spotify has promoted so-called "ghost artists" or AI-generated content on popular playlists, potentially to reduce royalty payouts. This lack of transparency has sparked debates about ethics in AI content.
Last month, an AI-generated band called the Velvet Sundown popped up on Spotify, with their top track, "Dust on the Wind", amassing almost 2 million plays since its release on June 20. Another instance involved an AI-generated song, "Together", which appeared on the official page of Blake Foley, a country singer who was murdered in 1989. Spotify published this song under the name of the deceased musician without approval from his estate or label.
The use of AI-generated music has sparked widespread backlash, with concerns about copyright infringement and the deception of listeners. Deceiving listeners with AI-generated profiles and songs is a form of misinformation that risks ruining the reputation of human artists. AI-generated music is largely created using creative works without authorization or payment to creators and rights-holders, a practice that undermines the very foundation of the music industry.
Deezer's proactive approach to AI-generated music is a step towards maintaining trust and protecting the remuneration of human artists. Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, has taken a laissez-faire approach to managing AI-generated content. After criticism, Spotify removed the unauthorized AI-generated tracks from its platform. As the debate continues, it is clear that transparency and ethical considerations are crucial in the use of AI in the music industry.
[1] Deezer's AI-Detection Algorithm for AI-Generated Music [2] Spotify's Approach to AI-Generated Music [4] Ethics and Transparency in AI-Generated Music
- Deezer's AI-Detection Algorithm for AI-Generated Music is designed to identify artificially created songs using popular generative AI models, such as Suno and Udio, and labels them as "AI-generated content" on the platform, promoting transparency and discouraging copyright infringement.
- In contrast, Spotify's Approach to AI-Generated Music has been criticized for its lack of transparency, with reports suggesting the platform has promoted AI-generated content on popular playlists, potentially to reduce royalty payouts, which has sparked debates about ethics in AI content.
