Sony Music removed more than 75,000 AI-generated songs from music streaming services. According to the label, the songs violated the copyrights of its signed artists. The company noted that this number represents only a small percentage of the total number of AI-generated songs.
Information about the "purge" emerged during a UK government consultation with label representatives on the enforcement of artificial intelligence in the music industry. Sony Music noted that the deleted tracks were presented as having been released by one of the label's artists, but were actually created using algorithms and neural networks.
Considered to be Sony Music's most profitable artists, Beyoncé, Harry Styles, and Queen are on the list of artists whose names have been used in this way. According to the record company, the artists' voices were used in compositions by other artists and algorithmically modeled by third-party services before being uploaded to streaming platforms.
In comments to the Financial Times, Sony Music noted that the number of generated songs is growing as algorithmic and neural network technology advances. This growth is influenced by the ease of access to deepfakes and neural networks, which has been driven by making them cheaper and easier for users.
The label noted that 75,000 seems like a large number, but it is not. However, the real scale of generated music is much larger, so the purge only eliminated a small percentage of streamers. At the same time, the label has no automatic means of verification and had to manually examine streaming service catalogs, identify "fake" songs, and send removal requests.
Currently, the UK government is considering loosening regulations on artificial intelligence in hopes of attracting developers. In one of his addresses, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he dreams of making the UK the best place to start and develop an AI business.
Many participants in the entertainment industry responded negatively to the politician's words. Representatives of the music industry, in particular, voiced their objections, referring to the uncontrolled use of copyrighted creativity.
Financial Times journalists also reviewed Sony Music's statement submitted to the UK government. In the letter, the music label states that a lack of control over AI leads to direct commercial harm to legitimate artists, including British artists.
Sony Music believes that pursuing an “open door policy” toward AI technology appears rushed, imbalanced, and irreversible. Sony Music reminds us that copyright is a right, not a regulation, and a necessary public reward for music creation. Thus, Sony Music fears that the proposed relaxation of UK copyright law will affect not only large, successful artists but also small, little-known artists who rely on streaming revenue and lack label support.
We believe this will not be the last news bulletin in which we learn about deepfake purges on music streaming services initiated by major labels. The fact that Sony Music removed 75,000 tracks is just the beginning!
