Spotify To Label AI-Generated Artists
• In an effort to “improve listener transparency,” Spotify announced that starting next month, it will begin labeling AI artists and avoid promoting them. “Listeners have been clear in telling us that they don’t like seeing an artist profile that seems human, only to find out that the persona is AI-generated,” the release states. “That’s why, starting mid-September, you’ll begin to see an ‘AI Persona’ badge on some artist profiles. The badge signals to listeners that an artist’s identity may be AI-generated and does not represent a real person. Alongside artist profiles that self-disclose as AI Personas, we will also start applying badges to relevant profiles.”
The release continues, “By default, Spotify will not include AI Personas in any editorial or algorithmic recommendations. That means you won’t see any music from AI Personas in your personalized recommendations, unless you follow AI Personas, for example. While we believe all artists have creative choice in determining how they present themselves, Spotify’s programming is focused on elevating music from authentic artists building careers in music.”
Starting today, artists can share that their profile represents an AI Persona through Spotify for Artists. “We hope artists will be transparent, so we are giving them the opportunity to disclose, but we won’t rely on self-disclosure alone. Spotify will also review artist profiles and identify those whose public identity — the identity an artist presents on their profile, including name and imagery — appears to represent photorealistic AI-generated identities. We’ll start with artists who have met defined audience thresholds, so the labels cover the vast majority of artist profiles that users visit.”
In mid-September, you’ll start to see the AI Persona badge appear on artist profiles (in the banner and About section), in Search, and on track rows across playlists. When listeners tap the badge, they’ll be able to see whether the artist transparently shared that they’re an AI Persona to build trust with potential listeners, or if Spotify had to review and make an informed determination.
For artist profiles where Spotify’s review team have applied the badge, artists will be notified and given the opportunity to self-disclose or appeal. In the coming months, we’ll also give listeners the ability to report artist profiles they believe represent AI Personas to our review team.”
