Spotify Takes Action to Remove Thousands of AI-Generated Songs Amid View Controversy
Music streaming giant, Spotify, has removed tens of thousands of AI-generated songs from its platform following suspicions of view inflation through the use of bots. These songs were not removed solely because they were produced using AI technology, but also due to concerns that additional measures were taken to artificially boost their view count and generate more revenue.
The tracks that were deleted were created using boomy, an AI-powered music creation tool. These removed songs make up around 7% of the total songs generated by the platform, which has already amassed over 14 million recordings. Boomy claims responsibility for 13% of all music currently being produced worldwide.
The decision to remove these songs came after a directive from Universal Music Group, which has been wary of AI-generated music for some time. As one of the industry’s largest record companies, Universal raised concerns in April and urged both Spotify and Apple to block services that employ AI to produce songs. According to Universal, these platforms exploit copyrighted material from their artists to train their generative models.
The recent spike in artificially generated views was the catalyst for Spotify’s action. The streaming platform stated, When we identify or are alerted to potential instances of stream tampering, we mitigate its impact by taking action. The move aims to protect royalty payments for genuine artists as Spotify pays royalties to artists and copyright holders based on the volume of streams.
Universal Music expressed its support for Spotify’s removal of AI-generated tracks. Michael Nash, the Chief Digital Officer at Universal, stated, Our company is always excited when we see our partners exercise vigilance over monitoring or activity on their platforms.
This development comes at a time when concerns have been raised about the role of AI in music creation. A collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd, which never actually occurred, recently went viral on social media. The song titled Heart on My Sleeve was produced using software trained on the voices of these two artists. The AI-generated piece quickly amassed millions of views on platforms like TikTok and hundreds of thousands of plays on Spotify before being taken down.
While Spotify takes a more cautious stance toward AI-generated music, other well-established artists, like renowned French producer David Guetta, are embracing it. Guetta believes that the future of music lies in AI but sees it solely as a tool, much like the electronic percussion boxes of the past. He emphasized that an artist’s taste and unique emotion are what define their work, and modern instruments, including AI, can be utilized to express this.
While the debate surrounding AI’s impact on human creativity continues, an alliance of musicians and artists launched the Human Art Campaign to raise awareness of the potential erosion of human creativity posed by AI. The campaign receives support from industry organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America, the Independent Music Association, and the British Phonographic Industry.
As Spotify takes steps to address the concerns related to AI-generated music, the balance between protecting artists’ interests and fostering innovation on its platform remains a key challenge. The company’s CEO, Daniel Ek, had previously acknowledged the music industry’s valid concerns and committed to establishing a position that safeguards artists while encouraging innovation.
The removal of AI-generated songs from Spotify highlights the need for a careful and thoughtful approach to balancing the benefits and potential risks associated with AI in the music industry. While AI can offer new and exciting possibilities, it is essential to protect the rights and creativity of human artists in the process.
