Gómez Sarmiento, Isabella. “Why doesn’t Spotify label AI-generated music?” NPR, NPR, 8 August 2025, https://www.npr.org/2025/08/08/nx-s1-5492314/ai-music-streaming-services-spotify.
An AI-generated band called “The Velvet Sundown” recently gained millions of listeners on Spotify. The band and other AI-generated musicians have their music algorithmically loaded onto playlists like “Discover Weekly”. However, the music streaming service does not label any of its AI-generated songs or musicians, and has listeners questioning the platform’s transparency. Critics say that Spotify may be purposefully elusive to avoid artist royalties, as well as increase profits with rapid releases of AI content. AI ‘artists’ can create unlimited amounts of music for the company to profit from, without Spotify having to pay real royalties. Journalists and listeners in general say this should be solved by having clear labeling on AI-generated content.
I believe that this article does a good job of pointing out a specific problem with AI in a company, and offering solutions to create trust again. The article did not feel like only a complaint, but an exploration of the risks and reasons associated with AI replication in music. I also appreciated the emphasis on supporting independent artists in your community, or on their personal websites/social media.
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