Popular music streaming platform Spotify said on Tuesday that it will not recommend works of AI-generated profiles (presenting as human artists) in their user algorithm and suggestions, and will also start labelling such profiles with a Spotify AI persona badge.
Spotify informed that it will give an option to “artists” to self-disclose if their profile is AI-generated and the AI persona badge will also inform listeners whether the profile chose to disclose its AI-generated.
Spotify claimed that users’ feedback on its platform has hinted to an aversion towards AI-generated profiles claiming to be human artists. The platform has noted that the new updates only apply to people using AI-generated personas as human artists and not to artists using AI tools to make music.
Listeners have been clear in telling us that they don’t like seeing an artist profile that seems human, only to find out that the persona is AI-generated. That’s why, starting mid-September, you’ll begin to see an AI Persona badge on some artist profiles,” Spotify said.
According to the company the badge will indicate that a profile’s public identity may have been generated using AI and does not represent a real person. The music streaming platform will also apply the badges to relevant profiles, alongside artists who voluntarily disclose themselves as AI Personas.
By default the company will exclude AI Personas in any editorial or algorithmic recommendations which means the listeners won’t be able to see any music from AI Personas in their personalized recommendations, unless they follow AI Personas. Spotify said the move is aimed at maintaining transparency while allowing artists creative freedom in how they present themselves.
“While we believe all artists have creative choices in determining how they present themselves, Spotify’s programming is focused on elevating music from authentic artists building careers in music,” the company mentioned.
“Starting today, artists can share that their profile represents an AI Persona through Spotify for Artists. We hope artists will be transparent, so we are giving them the opportunity to disclose, but we won’t rely on self-disclosure alone,” the company further added.
Spotify will also review artist profiles and identify those whose public identity—the identity an artist presents on their profile, including name and imagery—appears to represent photorealistic AI-generated identities. “We’ll start with artists who have met defined audience thresholds, so the labels cover the vast majority of artist profiles that users visit,” it stated.
From mid-September, the AI persona badge will appear on artists’ profiles in search results and alongside tracks in playlists. “When listeners tap the badge, they’ll be able to see whether the artist transparently shared that they’re an AI Persona to build trust with potential listeners, or if Spotify had to review and make an informed determination,” the company said.
Spotify also revealed that in the coming months, they will also give listeners the ability to report artist profiles they believe represent AI Personas to their review team. adding that they will share more details on this soon.
AI Persona badges are part of the company’s broader efforts to make itself the most transparent and trustworthy place to listen to music. This year they have introduced several other features designed to give listeners more transparency about what they’re hearing and who’s behind it.
These features include Verified by Spotify, AI Credits, SongDNA, Artist Details and Artist Profile Protection.
The move comes amid growing efforts by music and AI companies to address concerns over the authenticity and misuse of AI-generated music. AI music generator Suno said it will introduce watermarking and fingerprinting technology and limit the mass distribution of AI-generated songs on streaming platforms after a court in Germany found the company liable for copyright infringement.
Also Read: Suno to Watermark AI Songs, Curb Mass Download After German Court Order on Copyright Violation
