Spotify to Tag AI Artists, Drop Them From Recommendations

Spotify is getting more explicit about what—and who, or in some cases "who"—you're listening to, the New York Times reports. Come September, the streaming giant will tag artist profiles it determines are AI-created with an "AI Persona" label, which will appear near names, in search, and on playlists. Those profiles will be blocked from editorial and algorithmic recommendations, part of what Spotify describes as a push to "elevate" human musicians. Variety notes Spotify's algorithmic recommendations are "prized."

Users and Spotify's own automated tools can flag AI personas; human moderators will review cases, and artists can appeal. Users who create AI-generated music can also self-identify to apply the label. The move follows calls from major music industry groups for clearer AI labeling and comes as acts with names like Velvet Sundown quietly rack up millions of streams without being clearly labeled as AI-generated. AI-made music itself is still allowed on the platform as long as it doesn't break rules on spam or fraud. Last year, Spotify said it removed 75 million spam tracks, the Guardian reports.