Tidal Stops Payments for AI Music

Streaming service Tidal announced it will cease royalty payments for AI-generated music tracks beginning in mid-July. The company stated its priority is to ensure that compensation goes directly to original works created, written, and performed by humans.

Tidal defines AI music as content that is entirely or substantially produced using generative AI. The new policy does not ban AI-generated music from the platform but will introduce a special icon to identify tracks created with AI. This labeling will initially apply to songs definitively identified as fully AI-generated, with plans to expand to predominantly AI-created content as identification methods improve.

The company is also increasing its efforts to address AI music added with "deceptive intent." This includes music designed to mislead listeners, disrupt artists and their audiences, or exhibit unusual streaming or download activity. Tidal holds distributors responsible for identifying AI-generated tracks before they are uploaded to the platform. The move by Tidal follows a similar initiative by Deezer, which launched a tool to label AI-generated songs earlier this year.

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Tidal's priority is to ensure that compensation goes directly to original works created, written, and performed by humans.