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🇸🇬 Singapore /Technology

Commentary: The Pushback Against AI Songs Is Music to My Ears

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources New plan
  • Music platforms are moving toward clearer labeling of AI-generated songs after AI tracks appeared on major charts.
  • Tidal allows AI tracks but bars wholly or substantially AI-generated music from monetization.
  • Spotify plans to label AI-generated personas and exclude them from algorithmic playlists starting in mid-September.

Good news for people who still want music made by musicians: the resistance to AI-generated tracks is beginning to produce results. Dave Lee of Bloomberg Opinion says streaming platforms are taking steps against what he calls AI “slop” and deception.

a new tool for creativity

· Dr DreThe hip-hop artist’s positive view of AI in music.

Lee previously urged Spotify to let listeners block music made with AI. His appeal followed the appearance of a wholly artificial song at the top of the country charts. The New York Times has since reported that around a dozen AI-generated songs have reached various Billboard charts since 2022. Many came from Suno, an AI music app whose model was built by scraping millions of songs written and performed by humans.

Spotify had said it was working on a common industry standard for disclosing AI use, but no such system had yet been implemented. The issue is complicated by the difficulty of drawing a line between assistance and replacement. An artist might use AI for a drum track while composing and performing the rest of a song. Whether that makes the result AI music remains open to debate.

an extension of my mind

· Bjorn UlvaeusUlvaeus describes how AI helps him imagine orchestral arrangements.

Some major musicians see the technology differently. Dr Dre has called AI “a new tool for creativity.” ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus told Lee that AI helped him imagine quickly how a new composition might sound with large orchestras, describing it as “an extension of my mind.”

an abomination

· Dave LeeLee condemns music generated entirely by AI.

Lee draws a sharper distinction. He says music generated entirely by AI, created through prompts rather than talent, is an “abomination.” He describes finding such a track inserted into a Spotify playlist by an algorithm as a “deeply violating experience.” Recent platform policies have given his position some encouragement. Tidal now requires clear labeling and prohibits monetization of tracks that are “wholly or substantially” AI-generated. Spotify has also said that, from mid-September, it will clearly label AI-generated personas and keep them out of algorithmic playlists.

a deeply violating experience

· Dave LeeLee describes discovering entirely AI-generated music in a playlist.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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