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Spotify announced on Thursday that it has entered into agreements with major music labels, including Sony, Universal, Warner, and Merlin, to create new artificial intelligence products aimed at ensuring fair compensation for artists and songwriters. The streaming service emphasized that its focus would be on developing what it calls “responsible AI” technologies that respect copyright laws while allowing musicians to decide whether they want their work to be used with AI applications.
While details regarding the functionality of the forthcoming tools were not disclosed, Spotify already provides generative AI features like its AI DJ, which curates personalized song selections, and others that enable users to request playlists via AI prompts.
The move comes after Spotify faced backlash for hosting an AI-generated band’s music that gained significant traction on its platform, sparking concerns about the potential sidelining of human creativity in the music industry.
In response to these issues, last month Spotify overhauled its AI policies to combat spam and prevent users from uploading mass quantities of AI-generated content that could clutter its platform and manipulate search and recommendation systems. The company also recently adopted the DDEX music labeling system to indicate when AI is involved in song creation.
Spotify’s planned generative AI features aim to align with its earlier pledges by allowing artists to opt in to the use of AI tools. This system is expected to provide artists the ability to track when their music is used in AI-generated works and to receive proper compensation. The initiative will eventually extend to include other rights holders and distributors.
“Some voices in the tech industry believe copyright should be abolished. We don’t. Musicians’ rights matter. Copyright is essential,” Spotify stated in a release. “If the music industry doesn’t lead during this pivotal moment, AI-driven innovation could unfold elsewhere, lacking rights, consent, or compensation. Together with rights holders, artists, and songwriters, we are committed to investing in AI research and product development,” they added.
Additionally, Spotify has begun constructing a generative AI research lab and product team dedicated to advancing new technologies that reflect its core principle: artists should have a choice in how they engage with the AI music landscape. The company mentioned that work on initial products has already commenced and that more innovative tools are forthcoming.
