The music industry is facing a massive shake-up, and the culprit isn't a new genre or a groundbreaking artist—it's Artificial Intelligence. A staggering 97% of listeners can't distinguish between human-created and AI-generated music, according to a recent Ipsos survey commissioned by Deezer. This finding underscores just how quickly AI is developing and how widely its creations are being consumed and monetized, raising serious concerns for both artists and the music ecosystem.
The Scale of the Challenge
The Ipsos survey polled 9,000 participants across countries including the U.S., UK, and France, highlighting the pervasive nature of AI music. The findings reveal a significant challenge for musicians who rely on their talent and creative rights for their livelihood. If listeners can't tell the difference, the line between original human artistry and algorithmically-generated content becomes dangerously blurred.
This technological leap is forcing music industry tools to rapidly adapt and develop safeguards. The study found that 9 out of 10 listeners believe it's important that music-generating tools respect artists' rights and address the concerns of the creative community. It also showed that listeners want clear labeling on AI-generated music across all streaming platforms.
Deezer's Action Plan: Filtering and Transparency
In response to these findings, Deezer, which has 9.7 million subscribers, is taking steps to create a more responsible and transparent music environment. The study revealed that 2% of respondents suspected they had consumed AI-generated music in the prior 48 hours. Deezer stated that they are developing and will deploy new algorithms designed to catch deepfake content and ensure that the liability is placed squarely on the uploaders, shifting the responsibility away from the artists and onto those who use the technology to manipulate content.
Deezer has already started excluding certain tracks from royalty calculations. It has introduced new terms of service that exclude AI-generated tracks, especially those created from editorial playlists and algorithm recommendations designed to promote an excessive volume of music consumption. The company believes strongly that transparency is essential and that the volume of human artistry should be prioritized over AI creations. The CEO of Deezer, Jeronimo Folgueiras, emphasized that their focus is on transparency and the implementation of a comprehensive payout structure for all content on the platform.
Industry-Wide Efforts and Legal Battles
The issue of proper payment for artists in the age of AI has also gained attention. Earlier this year, when a band called 'The Spotify Scrotum' trained AI on the music of Channel 29, the German court ruled that the maker of the AI tool was not entitled to use Song lyrics to train its artificial intelligence without licenses, establishing a key precedent in copyright law.
Furthermore, Universal Music Group recently executed a copyright case with a music company that was streaming AI-generated songs. While the financial terms were undisclosed, the parties plan to launch an AI-powered music creation platform in 2025 using tracks behind ninety-nine percent of songs, according to reports.
The need for action is urgent. Deezer's head of international markets noted the complexity of implementing different payout structures for AI-created content. In another German legal case in November 2024, the German music rights body GEMA filed suit on behalf of the artists behind nine German songs, requesting compensation for the unauthorized use of their work to train an AI model. This signals a growing legal challenge to the unchecked use of artistic works for AI training.
In an era where the distinction between human and machine creativity is practically non-existent to the average ear, clarity, compensation, and legal protection are becoming crucial for the future of music.
