The Recorded Music Industry Wants Labels on AI Music. How Could That Work? (FAQ)

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The record industry has proposed labels for fully and partially AI-generated tracks on streaming services, but the implementation could take a while.

Billboard

On July 10, key stakeholders in the recorded music industry came together to announce a new system for identifying fully and partially AI-generated songs.

Since the release of Ghostwriter’s so-called “Fake Drake” song “Heart On My Sleeve” in May 2023, the industry has been grappling with how to deal with AI-generated material on streaming services, with DSPs each proposing their own set of guidelines. That includes anything from tagging AI-generated songs as such, to enhanced streaming fraud detection, to demonetization. But Sam Duboff, global head of policy, music business at Spotify, told Billboard in 2025 that “it’s still early days for AI tech” — leaving many platforms hesitant to create any stringent long-term rules that could lead to unintended consequences.