Major record labels demand AI-generated songs face strict rules to enter global music charts

Major labels call for AI slop songs to be banned from entering charts around the world - Engadget

It comes as tens of thousands of AI-generated songs are uploaded to music streaming platforms every day. A coalition of major labels that includes Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music group is calling for AI slop tracks to be disqualified from entering global music charts. The backlash comes after synthetic songs have soared to the top of charts like Billboard's ubiquitous rankings or Spotify's varius top songs lists. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the coalition, which is also backed by a number of smaller labels and independents, is asking chart companies to bring in new regulations that impose stricter rules on AI-generated music. To be considered, they argue that only songs that are primarily human-made should be included, and that any AI involvement must be demonstrably lawful. It comes after a spate of lawsuits have been filed by major labels, including Sony, that accuse AI music generators like Suno and Udio of training its models on their music without permission. The coalition says that any music that could be committing streaming fraud should not be allowed to enter charts around the world. Streaming companies are facing increased pressure from the music industry about AI transparency. Earlier this month, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) proposed a new labeling system that would flag qualifying songs as fully or partly AI-generated in music streaming apps. Apple has already introduced AI "Transparency Tags" which function in a similar way, but applying them is currently at the discretion of the labels and distributors. Meanwhile, tech companies are making it increasingly easy for anyone to create music with AI tools based on little more than a prompt. Google's Lyria Pro 3 can now spit out tracks up to three minutes in length, and allows users to create specific elements like intros, choruses and bridges. Last year, Spotify was forced to delete more than 75 million "spammy tracks" from its app, as tens of thousands of AI-generated songs are reportedly uploaded to platforms like Deezer on a daily basis.

The music industry wants AI slop kicked off the charts, and it finally has a plan

Universal, Sony, and Warner are pushing global charts to block AI slop songs. I've caught myself bopping along to a new viral quite a few times, only to realize that it was created using artificial intelligence. Turns out the labels are just as fed up with this as I am. So what exactly are labels asking for? A coalition of nearly a dozen record companies, including the "big three" of the industry, Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group, is pushing global music charts to adopt rules that would disqualify AI slop tracks from consideration (via The Hollywood Reporter). What's interesting is that the proposed policy wouldn't ban AI music outright. A track would still qualify if it is substantially human-created and only uses AI as a supplemental tool. However, to be eligible for global charts, it must meet three key conditions. Recommended Videos The AI model used must be properly licensed and authorized (not trained on copyrighted music without permission), the song must be primarily made by a human, and it must be free from any streaming fraud or artificial chart manipulation. In a joint release, the labels didn't mince words. They pointed out that many AI tracks flooding streaming services were built on tools trained on artists' work without consent. These same tracks are frequently tied to fraudulent streaming activity. Why now, and has this already happened? The AI country act Breaking Rust garnered major headlines last year after landing on the country digital sales chart. However, placements on digital sales charts don't necessarily reflect mass popularity, as it only takes about a thousand sales to chart, especially since digital downloads have become uncommon in the streaming era. On one hand, the record labels are actively partnering with companies like Nvidia, Spotify, and Stability AI to develop authorized AI tools. On the other hand, they have aggressively taken legal action against unlicensed platforms. While Universal, Sony, and Warner Music Group all sued AI music generators Suno and Udio in 2024 over copyright infringement, Warner has since settled with both platforms, and Universal settled with Udio last year. To me, this dual strategy, wherein labels are suing AI companies while quietly signing licensing deals with them, suggests they see AI music as inevitable rather than avoidable, and want to control its terms rather than block it outright.

Major Record Labels Call to Disqualify AI Slop Songs From Global Charts

A coalition of nearly a dozen of the biggest record companies in the music business -- including the "big three" of Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group -- are calling for global music charts to adopt policies that would disqualify many AI slop tracks from consideration. The companies are calling on the chart companies to introduce new rules that would only allow AI-generated songs to be included if the use of AI is properly authorized and lawful, if the track was substantially human made and if it doesn't raise concerns of streaming fraud or chart manipulation. Those stipulations don't outright disqualify all AI songs -- a primarily human created song that lawfully uses AI as a supplemental tool is still allowed -- but they'd certainly limit eligibility considerably. The biggest AI music generation platforms still face lawsuits over allegations of mass copyright infringement to train their models, and much of the AI music uploaded to streaming services is linked to streaming fraud. "Tracks created using generative AI systems have been appearing on streaming services, however many of these have been developed with tools that have been trained on artists' music without authorisation," the companies said in a release on Wednesday. "These tracks are also commonly associated with streaming fraud. To tackle this, record companies are driving the development and licensing of AI music services that respect the rights of music creators. Through the implementation of these principles, human creators will have further assurance that tracks manufactured via unauthorised algorithms unjustly built upon their work - or fraudulently promoted - will not be celebrated by industry charts." While AI-generated songs haven't overwhelmed the charts yet, there have been several notable cases. The AI country act Breaking Rust, for example, garnered major headlines last year after managing to make it on the country digital sales chart. Still, it should be said that placements on digital sales charts certainly don't reflect mass consumption, as it only takes a thousand-or-so sales to chart there given that digital downloads have become far less common in the streaming era. AI remains among the most pressing issues in the music industry, as the record companies have announced partnerships with the likes of Nvidia, Spotify and Stability AI to develop AI music tools, while also suing when the AI companies cross the line. All three of the major labels sued AI music generators Suno and Udio back in 2024, though UMG settled with Udio last year, while WMG settled with both Suno and Udio. Sony is yet to carve out a deal with either company. The labels' call comes just weeks after the RIAA and IFPI announced a push for streaming services to more explicitly label AI-generated content on their platforms, suggesting a strategy similar to the current labeling of explicit music on streamers, with AI icons next to a song.