The music industry is facing a significant challenge with the increasing volume of AI-generated content on streaming platforms. In recent months, this issue has become more pronounced, with Deezer’s CEO, Alexis Lanternier, stating that the platform has “detected a significant uptick in delivery of AI-generated music only in the past few months”, and adding: “We see no sign of it slowing down.” This surge in AI-generated tracks, with over 20,000 being uploaded to Spotify every day, is not only affecting the quality of music available but also potentially diluting royalty payments and reducing discovery opportunities for artists.
To address this issue, Deezer has introduced an AI tagging system, which it claims is the world’s first, to detect and label AI-generated music. The company has also developed a tool that can detect 100% of AI-generated music from certain generative models. By using this tagging system, Deezer will clearly indicate to its users which albums include fully AI-generated tracks. Additionally, the platform excludes fully AI-generated tracks from algorithmic and editorial recommendations to minimize any negative impact on artist remuneration and the user experience.
While fully AI-generated music currently accounts for only a small fraction of total streams on Deezer, approximately 0.5%, the company reports that up to 70% of the streams generated by these tracks are fraudulent. Deezer has emphasized its commitment to detecting and preventing stream manipulation, excluding fraudulent streams from royalty payments.
The issue of streaming fraud and AI-generated content is not unique to Deezer, with Rob Stringer, Chairman of Sony Music Group and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, highlighting the problem during Sony Group’s 2025 Business Segment Presentation. He emphasized the need to combat fraud and manipulation, stating: “We urge everyone to combat the fraud and manipulation that is a worldwide problem in falsifying real revenue, skewing charts and clouding accurate statistics.” Stringer also criticized “functional audio” for hindering access to high-quality music and devaluing it, adding that these activities are “artificially siphoning billions of dollars away from artists and rights holders every year.”
Deezer has been proactive in addressing these issues, launching an “artist-centric” payment model with Universal Music Group in 2023, designed to reward artists with large followings and disincentivize low-quality content. Other music companies, such as Warner Music Group and Merlin, have since signed on to the model in France. Deezer’s efforts to increase transparency and safeguard the rights of artists and songwriters are crucial, as the rise of AI-generated music poses significant challenges to the industry. As Lanternier noted: “We are also clear in our commitment to safeguarding the rights of artists and songwriters at a time where copyright law is being put into question in favor of training AI models.”
