Grammys and other organizations create system to identify AI-made music

The global music industry is introducing a standardized labeling system to identify music created with artificial intelligence, aiming to bring greater transparency to consumers and establish a unified approach.

This initiative is spearheaded by prominent international music organizations such as the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), The Grammys, the SAG-AFTRA union, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), IMPALA, and the Human Artistry Campaign.

Announced via a joint statement, the system categorizes AI involvement into two distinct labels: 'AI Generated' and 'AI Assisted'. A recording will be marked 'AI Generated' if artificial intelligence has produced the majority of its creative elements, including the lead vocals, significant instrumental performances, or the entire composition based on prompts.

Conversely, the 'AI Assisted' label will apply to recordings primarily created by humans, where AI has been used for specific expressive elements. In these cases, human artists are responsible for the lead vocals and main instrumental parts. The statement clarified that these labels currently pertain to AI's use in sound recordings and will soon be implemented, but do not yet cover AI's application in lyrics, compositions, music videos, or cover art.

The system is designed for adoption by music streaming platforms, distributors, and other industry stakeholders. It utilizes visual icons for quick fan recognition, supported by metadata and associated delivery systems. The participating organizations are committed to collaborating with digital music services, distributors, aggregators, and standardization bodies to ensure widespread industry implementation.

Recent data highlights the increasing prevalence of AI in music. Deezer reported in April that AI-generated tracks constituted 44% of new music delivered to its platform. Apple Music estimates that over one-third of the tracks uploaded to its service are "100% AI."