Spotify is tightening its AI rules but still leaving room for artists to innovate with AI-generated music.
TLDR:
- Spotify introduced new policies to label AI usage and block spam content
- Over 75 million spammy tracks have been removed from the platform in the past year
- New spam filters and impersonation rules aim to protect real artists and royalty fairness
- Spotify supports AI as a creative tool but wants transparency and responsible use
What Happened?
Spotify has announced a set of updated policies aimed at managing the rise of AI-generated music. These new rules focus on encouraging transparency from creators, removing spam content, and protecting artists from unauthorized voice cloning and profile mismatches. The updates follow growing concerns from the music industry and listeners about AI abuse on streaming platforms.
Spotify has removed 75 million “spammy” songs as it seeks to moderate “bad actors” flooding AI-generated music on its platform. https://t.co/5iUK8zH91j
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 25, 2025
Spotify Welcomes AI Music, But Wants Clear Labels
Spotify made it clear it does not intend to ban AI-generated music. Instead, the company is encouraging artists to clearly label how they use AI tools in music production. This will be done through a new metadata standard developed by DDEX, a nonprofit that sets industry-wide technical norms.
Under this new system:
- Labels and distributors will disclose if a song uses AI for vocals, instruments, or post-production
- Artists will label whether AI was involved in lyrics or arrangement
- The approach recognizes AI use as a spectrum, not a yes or no answer
Spotify executive Sam Duboff explained:
This industry standard will allow for more accurate, nuanced disclosures. It won’t force tracks into a false binary where a song either has to be categorically AI or not AI at all.
Combating Spam With AI Detection Filters
One of Spotify’s biggest challenges has been the explosion of low-quality, mass-uploaded AI tracks, often used to manipulate streaming payouts. To fight this, Spotify is launching a new spam filter that detects common abuse tactics, including:
- Mass uploads and duplicate content.
- Tracks optimized only for SEO ranking.
- Artificially short songs meant to exploit algorithms.
- Uploads designed to siphon royalties from legitimate artists.
Once flagged, these tracks will become ineligible for algorithmic recommendations, though not necessarily removed unless they violate other rules.
Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s Global Head of Music, emphasized the company’s position:
We’re not here to punish artists for using AI authentically and responsibly. But we are here to stop the bad actors who are gaming the system.
Stronger Rules on Voice Cloning and Profile Misuse
Spotify is also enforcing stricter rules against unauthorized AI voice clones. These updates follow cases where artists’ voices or names were misused by others using generative AI tools. Spotify now bans any vocal impersonation content that is not explicitly licensed or approved by the original artist.
The company is also addressing the growing issue of “profile mismatches”, where fake songs are uploaded under real artists’ profiles. Spotify says it will invest more resources to:
- Review mismatch claims faster.
- Allow artists to report mismatches before release.
- Collaborate with distributors to stop fraud early.
This move was welcomed by major industry players like Warner Music Group, who said they support “setting the right environment and ecosystem for AI, where the value of artistic creativity is protected.”
The Velvet Sundown Case Sparked Policy Pressure
A recent controversy involved the AI-generated band Velvet Sundown, which gained over a million monthly listeners on Spotify without initially disclosing it was synthetic. The group later admitted they were an AI project, combining human direction with AI tools.
Spotify execs believe that if proper AI labeling had existed earlier, the hype and backlash around Velvet Sundown might have been avoided.
What TechKV Thinks?
I think Spotify’s latest move is a smart balance between innovation and responsibility. AI music is not going away, and rather than fight it, Spotify is choosing to channel it in the right direction. By encouraging labeling and clamping down on abuse, they are giving artists more freedom while protecting the overall integrity of the platform.
I especially like the focus on protecting royalties and real artists from being scammed by spam uploads. It shows Spotify understands the importance of fair compensation in this new AI-powered era. Letting AI assist creativity is fine, but flooding platforms with junk tracks just to game the system? That’s where the line needs to be drawn.
