Deezer starts labeling AI-generated music to tackle streaming fraud

In a bold move to enhance transparency, Deezer has announced the implementation of labels for albums featuring AI-generated tracks. This initiative, aimed at curbing streaming fraud, comes on the heels of alarming statistics indicating that approximately 18% of daily music uploads—over 20,000 tracks—are entirely created by artificial intelligence. Despite the prevalence of these tracks, Deezer found that around 70% of their streams are fraudulent, orchestrated to earn royalties illegitimately. To counteract this issue, the platform has committed to clearly marking AI-generated music. Such tracks will not be included in editorial playlists or algorithm-driven recommendations, and the service is actively filtering out fraudulent streams from its royalty payments. Deezer's new labeling system is poised to revolutionize how listeners distinguish between human-produced music and AI creations. Although AI-only songs currently account for just 0.5% of all streams on the platform, this figure is rapidly increasing. "We've noticed a significant surge in the delivery of AI-generated music in recent months, and the trend shows no signs of abating," stated Deezer CEO Alexis Lanternier in a press release. He emphasized the importance of a transparent approach to maintain trust with both users and the music industry. Lanternier also highlighted Deezer's commitment to protecting the rights of artists and songwriters amidst ongoing debates regarding copyright laws that may impact AI model training. In December 2024, the company applied for two patents related to its AI Detection technology, designed to identify distinct signatures that differentiate synthetic and genuine content. This announcement arrives as major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment, are reportedly negotiating licensing agreements with AI startups Udio and Suno. These startups are currently facing lawsuits from the record companies over copyright infringements, and a licensing deal could provide a pathway to resolving these legal disputes, as reported by Bloomberg earlier this month.