Spotify has announced a new "AI persona" label that will appear on artist profiles and track listings to identify performers and works created using artificial intelligence. Tracks and artists marked with this label will be excluded by default from the platform’s algorithmic personalized recommendations, according to The Guardian.
When it takes effect and how it will work
The change takes effect from September: AI-generated artists, such as Velvet Sundown — which is reported to have around 117,000 monthly listeners — will receive the "AI persona" tag. Content carrying this tag will not be surfaced automatically in users’ personalized playlists and recommendation feeds.
Why Spotify is making the change
Spotify says the move aims to clearly distinguish AI-generated artists and content from those created by humans, increasing transparency in the catalog and improving the user experience.
Declaration, review and detection measures
Creators will be able to self-declare if they and their works were produced using artificial intelligence. In addition, Spotify plans to deploy human reviews and AI detection tools to identify inauthentic works and bogus artists.
Scale of the problem so far
Last year Spotify removed about 75 million spam tracks after being flooded with AI-generated music. The company states its legitimate catalog contains roughly 100 million tracks, making the spam removal a significant moderation undertaking.
What this means for listeners and musicians
For listeners, AI-generated artists will be excluded from personalized algorithmic suggestions by default unless a user explicitly searches for them or opts in. For musicians, the label and self-declaration mechanism can increase transparency, while the company’s investigations and detection tools aim to filter out fake or fraudulent artists.
Summary
From September, Spotify will label AI-generated artists with an "AI persona" tag and by default block them from personalized recommendations. The change is part of wider efforts that included removing some 75 million spam tracks last year and seeks to make the platform’s roughly 100 million-track catalog more transparent.
