AI Music Has Sneaked Into Spotify—No Playlist Is Safe

The role of AI is controversial: some see it as a replacement, others as a means to improve productivity.
The Velvet Sundown is an artificial intelligence-created musical endeavor unveiled at a later date.
Spotify needs to provide clear information about verified artists, enhancing credibility.

There are two different perspectives There are two distinct viewpoints Two opposing ideas exist There are two differing approaches Two camps of opinion can be identified There are two contrasting philosophies Two separate lines of thinking are present Two divergent attitudes prevail Two alternative ways of looking at things Two fundamental stances are recognized when discussing artificial intelligence in regards to ai regarding the topic of artificial intelligence on the subject of ai concerning artificial intelligence with respect to ai as for artificial intelligence in terms of ai when talking about artificial intelligence in the realm of ai It could either dominate or serve as an effective instrument to assist individuals in accomplishing tasks more effectively. Both aspects might hold truth, since artificial intelligence is integrated into numerous technological procedures and utilized across various sectors. Therefore, the issue arises: at what point does AI become excessive? This query will likely remain under discussion for years before it potentially becomes irreversible (based on one's perspective).

Some people have welcomed artificial intelligence, whereas others remain cautious about it. Those who oppose it may have seen numerous films or television shows depicting robots rising up and gaining consciousness. However, fundamentally, elements such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini can greatly save time for individuals conducting research or simply searching for an excellent dinner recipe. Although these large language models and chatbots you're not the only artificial intelligence available They are the most visible choices that individuals utilize every day.

This takes us back to the issue of how much AI is excessive? If you're The Velvet Sundown, a group with more than 1.1 million followers monthly listeners on Spotify That's everything you've got. The reason for this is that this rising band isn't actually a group of people, but instead an artificial intelligence-created musical endeavor that only revealed the truth lately — they're definitely not four individuals performing and vocalizing. Could this represent the future of the music business and Spotify? It could indeed be part of it.

What was the process of discovery?

The audio and headings revealed it

The band The Velvet Sundown launched their first album on June 5 this year, and streaming numbers on Spotify started rising soon afterward. Their music brings to mind the sounds of the 1960s, with strong elements of classic rock that typically highlight guitar work and vocal performances that suggest deeper significance beneath the surface. Songs such as "Dust on the Wind," "The Wind Still Knows Our Name," "Back Home Never Came," and "Smoke and Silence" carry a noticeable sense of mystery. The album’s name, "Floating on Echoes," is simply a creative choice without specific meaning.

Not long after the group began receiving increased attention and recognition, listeners started examining their musical style closely, noting that numerous tracks on the album bore striking similarities. It was as though someone had inputted into a chatbot: “Generate an album featuring a classic rock vibe reminiscent of 1960s bands.” Moreover, the visuals the band employed—and honestly—its very name felt slightly unsettling, prompting doubts about whether everything was entirely genuine. Speculation emerged suggesting the band may have been utilizing artificial intelligence to compose their music. In the end, these suspicions proved accurate.

Is it morally right to publish such music?

Music created using a computer is still considered music.

The administrators of the The Velvet Sundown Spotify profile updated the band's biography to say:

A musical endeavor known as The Velvet Sundown operates under human artistic guidance, with composition, vocal elements, and visuals generated through the use of artificial intelligence.

This is not a deception — it's a reflection. A continuous artistic statement aimed at questioning the limits of ownership, selfhood, and the evolving landscape of music in the era of artificial intelligence.

Every character, narrative, melody, vocal performance, and lyric is an original work developed using artificial intelligence technologies used as artistic aids. Any similarity to real locations, occurrences, or individuals—whether alive or passed away—is entirely accidental and not meant. Neither fully human nor completely mechanical. The Velvet Sundown exists in the space in between.

Clearly, the deception had been exposed. The noise wasn’t genuinely produced by people, nor did it come from a collective that individuals could visually recognize. But does that really make a difference?

There’s an unsettling aspect to claiming ownership of music without being the actual creator. This is why stealing work is heavily criticized within the journalism field. You shouldn’t receive recognition for something you haven’t created. However, The Velvet Sundown recently launched a musical project, assigned a band name, crafted visuals resembling an independent rock group (likely based on a specific instruction), and encouraged others to accept it. Morally speaking, this falls into a grey zone. Legally, though, it seems acceptable. Should Spotify have granted them a verified artist status? That remains questionable.

What Spotify should focus on moving ahead

A shift is necessary to safeguard musicians

The responsibility shouldn't fall on fans to check a band’s biography to determine if they're listening to an AI-created act. The Spotify Verified Artist designation should include a small symbol indicating that this is not music produced by a dedicated musician striving to build their reputation. These aren’t musicians you can attend live shows of. Instead, the music was created by a software system, initiated by human input.

In order to obtain a Verified Artist designation, you need to submit your music via Spotify for Artists, take ownership of your profile, confirm your submission, and provide more details to your account.

Does it matter greatly that the music was created using artificial intelligence? In the long run, probably not. However, pretending it came from a genuine group is more problematic. The fact that people had to expose it publicly is another concern. Ultimately, music remains just music. Nevertheless, the broader artistic community should have concerns about how Spotify managed this situation. It’s possible that Spotify wasn’t aware the artist was AI-generated prior to allowing the content onto their platform. Now that the truth has come to light, the labeling must be corrected.

If you believe this isn’t significant and assume many others are engaging in similar actions, you’re likely correct. Sampling once sparked widespread anger, and this has been happening for over a century. The issue lies in the practices and norms that require change since, honestly speaking, this trend will only grow stronger. How you feel about The Velvet Sundown’s music is entirely up to you. However, this form of musical production may well mark the start of how AI influences the music industry.