The AI Band That Sparked Spotify’s Content Regulations Row
An AI-generated band called The Velvet Sundown gained millions of Spotify streams before being exposed, triggering discussion over copyright and regulation. This incident highlights the challenges that music platforms face in handling synthetic content.
Introduction
The Velvet Sundown appeared on streaming services in June, presenting itself as a regular folk rock band with polished photos and a carefully crafted sound. Within weeks, the group had notched up millions of listens on Spotify. However, music fans quickly started noticing something odd about the whole setup.
Discovery of the AI Nature
The band’s promotional photos had that slightly unsettling quality that’s become the hallmark of AI-generated images. The situation escalated when someone claiming to be connected to the project revealed that the band had used Suno, an AI platform for creating music, to generate their tracks. Initially, the team behind The Velvet Sundown tried to deny these claims through social media but eventually came clean about the artificial nature of the project.
Industry Backlash
This admission triggered a backlash from across the music industry and raised awkward questions about how streaming platforms police their content. Ed Newton Rex, who runs Fairly Trained, a non-profit focused on AI ethics, stated, “This is exactly what artists have been worried about; it’s theft dressed up as competition.”
Concerns Over Transparency
The controversy has exposed how little oversight there is of AI-generated content in music streaming. Current rules don’t require platforms to flag synthetic music, leaving both artists and listeners in the dark about what they’re hearing. Roberto Neri, CEO of the Ivors Academy, argues that AI-generated bands raise serious concerns around transparency, authorship, and consent.
Sophie Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), emphasizes, “We believe that AI should be used to serve human creativity, not supplant it.” The BPI has been pushing for more transparency from AI companies regarding how they train their systems and generate content.
Risks of AI-Generated Music
Writer Liz Pelly warns that AI-generated music could homogenize sound. In her book “Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist,” she notes that music trends produced in the streaming era are inherently connected to attention, leading to a risk of everything sounding the same.
Streaming Platforms’ Responses
Different streaming services have taken varied approaches to handling AI-generated music, highlighting the lack of industry-wide standards. Deezer, for instance, has rolled out detection software that spots AI-generated tracks and tags them for users. Aurélien Hérault, Deezer’s Chief Innovation Officer, views this as a transparency issue, stating that platforms need to inform users.
In contrast, Spotify has adopted a more hands-off approach, insisting it doesn’t favor AI-generated music over human-made tracks. However, research indicates that Spotify often fills its playlists with AI-generated songs to reduce royalty payouts, raising concerns about its promotion of synthetic content.
Conclusion
The Velvet Sundown’s rise and subsequent exposure have ignited a vital conversation about the future of music in the age of AI. As the industry grapples with these challenges, the need for clear regulations and transparency becomes increasingly urgent. The current lack of oversight poses significant risks for both artists and listeners, demanding a reevaluation of how platforms manage synthetic content.
