Music streaming service Deezer adds AI song tags in fight against fraud

In a proactive move to combat streaming fraud, Deezer, the Paris-based music streaming service, has announced that it will begin tagging albums that feature AI-generated songs. This initiative is part of Deezer's broader effort to address the increasing prevalence of music created through artificial intelligence tools, which the company claims are often exploited for fraudulent royalty gains. Starting soon, users will notice an on-screen label indicating 'AI-generated content' on certain albums, alerting listeners that some tracks were produced using song generation technologies. Although Deezer is a smaller entity in the competitive music streaming landscape dominated by giants like Spotify, Amazon, and Apple, it emphasizes that the rise of AI-generated music poses an 'industry-wide issue.' CEO Alexis Lanternier expressed a strong commitment to protecting the rights of artists and songwriters, especially as copyright laws face scrutiny amid AI advancements. The impact of generative AI on the music industry is profound, with Deezer reporting that approximately 18% of daily uploads—equating to about 20,000 tracks—are entirely AI-generated. This figure has doubled from just three months ago, highlighting the rapid growth of this phenomenon. Lanternier noted that while AI can facilitate music creation, issues arise when it leads to the production of songs without human artists behind them, opening the door for manipulative practices by fraudsters. These fraudulent entities are known to flood platforms with numerous tracks in hopes of securing playlist placements and royalties. Currently, fully AI-generated music constitutes only around 0.5% of total streams on Deezer, but the company suspects that up to 70% of plays for these songs may originate from automated bots rather than genuine listeners. To counteract this manipulation, Deezer has announced that any AI-generated songs involved in such streaming tactics will be disqualified from earning royalties. The legal landscape surrounding AI music is also heating up, with numerous lawsuits challenging the practices of popular AI song generators like Suno and Udio. These companies are accused of copyright infringement for creating works that bear striking similarities to established songs, prompting major record labels to negotiate potential compensation agreements. To effectively identify and tag these AI-generated songs, Deezer employs the same AI technology used to create them, allowing the company to recognize distinct patterns in the music. Lanternier explained that the ever-evolving nature of AI-generated content necessitates daily updates to their detection tools, ensuring they remain a step ahead. The battle against music fraud is ongoing, as evidenced by a recent criminal case in the U.S. where an individual was charged with generating vast quantities of AI music and inflating streaming numbers for profit. As the music industry navigates the complexities of AI technology, Deezer's initiative represents a crucial step towards safeguarding the integrity of music creation and ensuring that artists receive fair compensation for their work.