AI-Generated Band "Velvet Sundown" Sparks Debate on Music Industry's Future

Music is at the forefront of AI disruption, but NZ artists still have few protections

Was the recent Velvet Sundown phenomenon a great music and media hoax, a sign of things to come, or just another example of what's already happening ? In case you missed it, the breakout act was streamed hundreds of thousands of times before claims emerged the band and their music were products of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Despite the "band" insisting they were real, an "associate" later admitted it was indeed an "art hoax" marketing stunt. Much of the subsequent commentary was concerned with fairness - particularly that a "fake" band was succeeding at the expense of "real" artists. But Velvet Sundown is only the most recent example in a long history of computer generated and assisted music creation - going back to the 1950s when a chemistry professor named Lejaren Hiller debuted a musical composition written by a computer. By the 1980s, David Cope's Experiments in Musical Intelligence created music so close to the style of Chopin and Bach it fooled classically trained musicians. Artist and composer Holly Herndon was highlighting a need for the ethical use and licensing of voice models and deepfakes several years before Grimes invited others to use AI-generated versions of her voice to make new music, and "Deepfake Drake" alarmed the major record labels. At the same time, music companies, including Warner, Capitol and rapper-producer Timbaland, have since inked record contracts for AI-generated work. GenAI-powered tools, such as those offered by Izotope, LANDR and Apple, have become commonplace in mixing and mastering since the late 2000s. Machine learning technology also underpins streaming recommendations. Creativity and copyright Despite this relatively long history of technology's impact on music, it still tends to be framed as a future challenge. The New Zealand government's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, released this month, suggests we're at a "pivotal moment" as the AI-powered future approaches. In June, a draft insight briefing from Manata Taonga/Ministry for Culture & Heritage explored "how digital technologies may transform the ways New Zealanders create, share and protect stories in 2040 and beyond". It joins other recent publications by the Australasian Performing Rights Association and New Zealand's Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association, which grapple with the future impacts of AI technologies. One of the main issues is the use of copyright material to train AI systems. Last year, two AI startups, including the one used by Velvet Sundown, were sued by Sony, Universal and Warner for using unlicensed recordings as part of their training data. It's possible the models have been trained on recordings by local musicians without their permission, too. But without any requirement for tech firms to disclose their training data it can't be confirmed. Even if we did know, the copyright implications for works created by AI in Aotearoa New Zealand aren't clear. And it's not possible for musicians to opt out in any meaningful way. This goes against the data governance model designed by Te Mana Raraunga/Māori Sovereignty Network. Māori writer members of music rights administrator APRA AMCOS have also raised concerns about potential cultural appropriation and misuse due to GenAI. Recent research suggesting GenAI work displaces human output in creative industries is particularly worrying for local musicians who already struggle for visibility. But it's not an isolated phenomenon. In Australia, GenAI has reportedly been used to impersonate successful, emerging and dead artists. And French streaming service Deezer claims up to 20,000 tracks created by GenAI were being uploaded to its service daily. Regulation in the real world There has been increased scrutiny of streaming fraud, including a world-first criminal case brought last year against a musician who used bots to generate millions of streams for tracks created with GenAI. But on social media, musicians now compete for attention with a flood of "AI slop", with no real prospect of platforms doing anything about it. More troublingly, New Zealand law has been described as "woefully inadequate" at combating deepfakes and non-consensual intimate imagery that can damage artists' brands and livelihoods. The government's AI strategy prioritises adoption, innovation and a light-touch approach over these creative and cultural implications. But there is growing consensus internationally that regulatory intervention is warranted. The European Union has enacted legislation requiring AI services to be transparent about what they have trained their models on, an important first step towards an AI licensing regime for recorded and musical works. An Australian senate committee has recommended whole-of-economy AI guardrails, including transparency requirements in line with the EU. Denmark has gone even further, with plans to give every citizen copyright of their own facial features, voice and body, including specific protections for performing artists. It's nearly ten years since the music business was described as the "canary in a coalmine" for other industries and a bellwether of broader cultural and economic shifts. How we address the current challenges presented by AI in music will have far-reaching implications.

A '60s-flavored band blew up on Spotify. They're AI.

Success came quickly for the Velvet Sundown. On June 5, they released their debut album, "Floating on Echoes," and in fewer than two weeks, it ended up on Spotify playlists with hundreds of thousands of saves. "Dust on the Wind," a pro-peace folk rock song on "Floating on Echoes," secured the No. 1 spot for Spotify's daily Viral 50 chart in Britain, Norway and Sweden between June 29 and July 1. In just over a month, the Velvet Sundown had over 1 million monthly streams on Spotify. There was one only problem: It didn't seem like the Velvet Sundown was really a band at all. There was no evidence online that any of the listed band members were real people. The photos the band shared were uncannily smooth, the vocals mechanically soulful and the lyrics a grab bag of anti-war clichés. To many of those following the band's quick popularity -- it released two albums, "Floating on Echoes" and "Dust and Silence," in June alone, with a third coming in mid-July -- the Velvet Sundown seemed like classic-rock snake oil. On Saturday, the group confirmed through its Spotify bio that the music was created using artificial intelligence "guided by human creative direction." "This isn't a trick -- it's a mirror," the statement reads. "An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI." Skip to end of carousel The Style section Style is The Washington Post's place for news from the front lines of culture -- arts, politics, trends and fashion. For more Style stories, click here. To subscribe to the Style Memo newsletter, click here. End of carousel The admission capped nearly three weeks of speculation -- and confusion. Shortly after the Velvet Sundown began to garner media attention, someone using the pseudonym Andrew Frelon claimed to be a spokesperson for the band, providing conflicting information to Rolling Stone about its use of AI. The Washington Post spoke to Frelon -- which translates to hornet in French -- last week but could not verify his involvement with the Velvet Sundown. The next morning, Frelon, who described himself as a Quebec-based web safety expert, revealed in a lengthy Medium post that he was not behind the Velvet Sundown's music. He had falsely claimed to be the band on Twitter to troll those outraged by the band's use of AI. The music's plausibility speaks to the blandness of some contemporary rock music. When Steven Hyden, author of "Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock," heard "Dust on the Wind," he felt it could be a parody of the generic Los Angeles bands that play mellow rock. "There's lots of bands like this trying to take the essence of late-'60s, early-'70s folk rock and replicate it in the most faithful way possible," Hyden said in a phone call. "If you just played ["Dust on the Wind"] for me without any context, I would have no reason to think it was fake. I would think it was a very derivative band that made a listenable-sounding song." The band's use of AI troubled many, particularly listeners such as Jamie Jones, an electrical engineer from Manchester, England, who stumbled on the music through streaming algorithms. When "Dust on the Wind" appeared in his Discover Weekly queue, he assumed the song was performed by humans. Jones now says he hopes Spotify won't program AI-assisted songs in playlists without adding a label first. "If they're putting in five songs to the playlist from the same AI band, and Spotify knows it's AI, you're taking food out of people's mouths who are trying to make it in that business," Jones said. "That's pretty wrong." Spotify did not respond to a request for comment. Others were less concerned about the music's digital provenance. When looking for music for his yoga classes, Oklahoma native Byron de Marsé often scrolls on Instagram. He initially heard the Velvet Sundown's "Drift Beyond the Flame" in a video of someone dancing. Before long, he worked the song into a yoga class, not realizing AI was involved. "It's got this emotional tone to it, so it's good for the end of a power yoga or vinyasa, where you're deeply stretching," said de Marsé, who plans on continuing to use the song in classes. Beyond the philosophical questions about their use of AI, the success of the Velvet Sundown is a strange testimony to the enduring appeal of classic rock. All of the superficial signifiers of classic rock are here, including lyrics about boots, freedom and flags flying. If you squint, "Drift Beyond the Flame" could be a B-side from Neil Young's "Harvest," while "Rebel Yell" is not far from a Bad Company cover. On "Vietnam War Music," one of the Spotify playlists where the band's songs appear, the entire Velvet Sundown discography sits alongside no less than 19 songs by beloved swamp rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival. Stu Cook, CCR's bassist, doesn't think the Velvet Sundown does justice to his band's era of music. "I just can't get past how boring the band is. There's just nothing inspiring at all about any of it," Cook said. "In a kind of off-the-wall way, I'm honored that they're including aspects of anything that Creedence represents in their AI efforts, whoever's behind all this. To me, it doesn't sound anything like Creedence."

An AI-generated band got 1m plays on Spotify. Now music insiders say listeners should be warned

The Velvet Sundown released two albums before admitting their music, images and backstory were created by AI They went viral, amassing more than 1m streams on Spotify in a matter of weeks, but it later emerged that hot new band the Velvet Sundown were AI-generated - right down to their music, promotional images and backstory. The episode has triggered a debate about authenticity, with music industry insiders saying streaming sites should be legally obliged to tag music created by AI-generated acts so consumers can make informed decisions about what they are listening to. Initially, the "band", described as "a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction", denied they were an AI creation, and released two albums in June called Floating On Echoes and Dust And Silence, which were similar to the country folk of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Things became more complicated when someone describing himself as an "adjunct" member told reporters that the Velvet Sundown had used the generative AI platform Suno in the creation of their songs, and that the project was an "art hoax". The band's official social media channels denied this and said the group's identity was being "hijacked", before releasing a statement confirming that the group was an AI creation and was "Not quite human. Not quite machine" but living "somewhere in between". Several figures told the Guardian that the present situation, where streaming sites, including Spotify, are under no legal obligation to identify AI-generated music, left consumers unaware of the origins of the songs they're listening to. Roberto Neri, the chief executive of the Ivors Academy, said: "AI-generated bands like Velvet Sundown that are reaching big audiences without involving human creators raise serious concerns around transparency, authorship and consent." Neri added that if "used ethically", AI has the potential to enhance songwriting, but said at present his organisation was concerned with what he called "deeply troubling issues" with the use of AI in music. Sophie Jones, the chief strategy officer at the music trade body the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), backed calls for clear labelling. "We believe that AI should be used to serve human creativity, not supplant it," said Jones. "That's why we're calling on the UK government to protect copyright and introduce new transparency obligations for AI companies so that music rights can be licensed and enforced, as well as calling for the clear labelling of content solely generated by AI." Liz Pelly, the author of Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, said independent artists could be exploited by people behind AI bands who might create tracks that are trained using their music. She referred to the 2023 case of a song that was uploaded to TikTok, Spotify and YouTube, which used AI-generated vocals claiming to be the Weeknd and Drake. Universal Music Group said the song was "infringing content created with generative AI" and it was removed shortly after it was uploaded. It is not clear what music the Velvet Sundown's albums were trained on, with critics saying that lack of clarity means independent artists could be losing out on compensation. Pelly said: "We need to make sure that it's not just pop stars whose interests are being looked after, all artists should have the ability to know if their work has been exploited in this way." For some, the appearance of the Velvet Sundown is the logical next step as music and AI combine, while legislation is fighting to keep up with a rapidly changing musical ecosystem. Jones said: "The rise of AI-generated bands and music entering the market points to the fact that tech companies have been training AI models using creative works - largely without authorisation or payment to creators and rights-holders - in order to directly compete with human artistry." Neri added that the UK has a chance to lead the world in ethical AI adoption in music but said there needed to be robust legal frameworks that "guarantee consent and fair remuneration for creators, and clear labelling for listeners". "Without such safeguards, AI risks repeating the same mistakes seen in streaming, where big tech profits while music creators are left behind," he added. Aurélien Hérault, the chief innovation officer at the music streaming service Deezer, said the company uses detection software that identifies AI-generated tracks and tags them. He said: "For the moment, I think platforms need to be transparent and try to inform users. For a period of time, what I call the 'naturalisation of AI', we need to inform users when it's used or not." Hérault did not rule out removing tagging in future if AI-generated music becomes more popular and musicians begin to use it like an "instrument". Deezer recently told the Guardian that up to seven out of 10 streams of AI-generated music on the platform are fraudulent. At present, Spotify does not label music as AI-generated and has previously been criticised for populating some playlists with music by "ghost artists" - fake acts that create stock music. A spokesperson for the company said Spotify does not prioritise AI-generated music. "All music on Spotify, including AI-generated music, is created, owned and uploaded by licensed third parties," they said.

"Indie Band" Says Claims Their Music Is AI-Generated Is a Hoax, Then Admits It's Actually AI-Generated

After an "indie rock band" called The Velvet Sundown refused to admit last week that its output was a lazy amalgamation of AI-generated slop, the outfit is now singing a dramatically different tune. As Rolling Stone reports, the band's Spotify bio has been revised to clarify that it's a "synthetic music project" and an "ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI." Adding to the confusion, last week the magazine talked to a man identifying himself as the project's "spokesperson," who called himself Andrew Frelon but turned out to be an impostor. "It's marketing," he said, referring to The Velvet Sundown as an "art hoax" and "trolling." Then, the story got even more confusing when a separate account that claimed to be behind the band tried to distance itself from Fremon's claims. "We have no affiliation with this individual, nor any evidence confirming their identity or existence," the account wrote. To be clear, it didn't take much reading between the lines to realize everything related to the band, from blatantly AI-generated images on their Instagram to insipid and uninspired lyrics in their music, was the product of an algorithm. So the latest update from the band's purported social media channels -- that it's a "mirror" and "ongoing artistic provocation" that lives somewhere between "human" and "machine" -- isn't exactly a major revelation. But whether the viral stunt will kickstart a meaningful conversation surrounding the use of AI in the music industry remains dubious at best. If anything, The Velvet Sundown highlighted glaring injustices in how music streaming services like Spotify remunerate human artists. The fictitious troupe amassed just shy of 1,000,000 monthly listeners on the platform -- while real artists continue to struggle for virtually any recognition at all.

'We're AI,' popular indie rock band admits

An indie rock band with more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify has owned up to being an AI-generated music project following days of speculation about whether the group was real. Named Velvet Sundown -- seemingly a nod to Lou Reed's band The Velvet Underground -- the digital group has become a viral hit, generating ferocious online discussion after racking up hundreds of thousands of listens. An updated Spotify profile, consulted on Tuesday by AFP, admitted that the group was an "ongoing artistic provocation." "All characters, stories, music, voices and lyrics are original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools employed as creative instruments," Velvet Sundown's profile added. Recently created social media profiles, featuring photos of the group that look suspiciously fake, have teased readers about the group's origins, offering often contradictory information. Experts have long warned about the dangers of AI-image, video and music generators blurring the lines between the real and fake. A major study in December by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), which represents more than five million creators worldwide, warned about the danger of AI-generated music. It forecast that artists could see their incomes shrink by more than 20% in the next four years as the market for AI-composed music grows. Stockholm-based streamer Spotify declined to comment directly about Velvet Sundown when contacted by AFP. Spokeswoman Geraldine Igou wrote that the platform does not "prioritize or benefit financially from music created using AI tools." "All tracks are created, owned, and uploaded by licensed third parties," Igou insisted. Rival music streaming service Deezer displayed a warning for "AI-generated content" for Velvet Sundown. "Some tracks on this album may have been created using artificial intelligence," it said. The Spotify rival has an AI-music detection tool that is able to identify songs generated using popular software models such as Suno and Udio. Deezer said in April that it was receiving more than 20,000 fully AI-generated tracks on a daily basis, comprising 18% of all uploaded content, an increase from the previously reported 10% in January. Reports on Tuesday said an impostor posing as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been using AI-generated voice and text messages to high-level officials and foreign ministers.

'We're AI,' popular indie rock band admits

Paris (AFP) - An indie rock band with more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify has owned up to being an AI-generated music project following days of speculation about whether the group was real. Named Velvet Sundown -- seemingly a nod to Lou Reed's band The Velvet Underground -- the digital group has become a viral hit, generating ferocious online discussion after racking up hundreds of thousands of listens. An updated Spotify profile, consulted on Tuesday by AFP, admitted that the group was an "ongoing artistic provocation". "All characters, stories, music, voices and lyrics are original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools employed as creative instruments," Velvet Sundown's profile added. Recently created social media profiles, featuring photos of the group that look suspiciously fake, have teased readers about the group's origins, offering often contradictory information. Experts have long warned about the dangers of AI-image, video and music generators blurring the lines between the real and fake. A major study in December by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), which represents more than five million creators worldwide, warned about the danger of AI-generated music. It forecast that artists could see their incomes shrink by more than 20 percent in the next four years as the market for AI-composed music grows. Stockholm-based streamer Spotify declined to comment directly about Velvet Sundown when contacted by AFP. Spokeswoman Geraldine Igou wrote that the platform does not "prioritise or benefit financially from music created using AI tools". "All tracks are created, owned, and uploaded by licensed third parties," Igou insisted. Rival music streaming service Deezer displayed a warning for "AI-generated content" for Velvet Sundown. "Some tracks on this album may have been created using artificial intelligence," it said. The Spotify rival has an AI-music detection tool that is able to identify songs generated using popular software models such as Suno and Udio. Deezer said in April that it was receiving more than 20,000 fully AI-generated tracks on a daily basis, comprising 18 percent of all uploaded content, an increase from the previously reported 10 percent in January. Reports on Tuesday said an imposter posing as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been using AI-generated voice and text messages to high-level officials and foreign ministers.

Fake AI band scandal: The Velvet Sundown controversy explained

They're blowing up right now, racking up more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify - which is pretty good going for a group that formed less than two months ago. What's also impressive is that the prolific four-piece psych-rock outfit have already released two albums on their "Verified Artist" profile: 'Floating On Echoes' and 'Dust And Silence', which were dropped on 5 and 20 June respectively. There are no signs of slowing down, as their new collection of "cinematic alt-pop and dreamy analogue soul" is out soon, with their third opus titled 'Paper Sun Rebellion' coming out on 14 July. Vocalist and "mellotron sorcerer" Gabe Farrow, guitarist Lennie West, "bassist-synth alchemist" Milo Rains and "free-spirited percussionist" Orion 'Rio' Del Mar must be thrilled with their sudden rise in popularity. At least they would be... if they were capable of human emotion. Yep, The Velvet Sundown don't exist. Not really. Questions regarding the band's legitimacy came after Reddit users began searching for background information on the band, after their Discover Weekly playlists had been flooded with The Velvet Sundown songs. In case you were wondering, they sound... bland. And the insipid lyrical content doesn't help: "Boots in the mud, sky burning red / Voices of reason lost in our heads / Radio hums while the silence screams / Truth slips away in American dreams." Deep. Doubts persisted when the band created an Instagram account late June - an account which features yellow-tinted images of them looking like eerily airbrushed trustfund kids who didn't want to work for daddy's company and instead decided to become cookiecutter hipsters who pester you at music festivals by insisting that no musical decade will ever top the 70s. Further suspicions were raised by the band's Spotify "Verified Artist" bio: "There's something quietly spellbinding about The Velvet Sundown. You don't just listen to them, you drift into them. Their music doesn't shout for your attention; it seeps in slowly, like a scent that suddenly takes you back somewhere you didn't expect." If you just felt your spleen drafting a resignation letter because of all your violent cringing, you're only human. Unlike The Velvet Sundown. Faced with growing criticism, the band defended themselves on their X account Velvet Sundown (The Real Band Not The AI Band): "Absolutely crazy that so-called 'journalists' keep pushing the lazy, baseless theory that The Velvet Sundown is 'AI-generated' with zero evidence." "Not a single one of these 'writers' has reached out, visited a show, or listened beyond the Spotify algorithm." The band doubled down by writing: "This is not a joke. This is our music, written in long, sweaty nights in a cramped bungalow in California with real instruments, real minds, and real soul. Every chord, every lyric, every mistake - HUMAN." It's worth mentioning that the description attached to their X handle reads: "Just A Bunch of Very Real Dudes In A Totally Real Band Keeping It Extremely Real! No, We Never Use AI!" The rockers doth protest too much? Handily, Spotify - which allows AI-generated music and does not require disclosure that the technology has been used - was not responding to any requests for a comment. Silence for some, debunking for others, as the streaming platform's competitor Deezer wasted no time in flagging the band's album 'Dust And Silence' as being "100% generated by AI." Deezer reiterated its commitment to not accepting content generated entirely by AI. It did not say it was against the use of AI as an aid to creation, but issued a press release saying: "In order to protect artists' remuneration and guarantee an optimal user experience, Deezer currently excludes 100% AI tracks from its algorithmic and editorial recommendations." The platform also shared an alarming figure: nearly 20% of music uploaded to their platform has been artificially created. That number represents a near-doubling in three months. And it's only going to get worse. As the Swedish proverb goes: "What is hidden in the snow will come forth in the thaw." In a new revision to their Spotify bio, The Velvet Sundown came clean and confirmed what had gradually seemed obvious: the band had lied, and their music was, in fact, AI-generated. "The Velvet Sundown is a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence," the band bio now reads. "This isn't a trick -- it's a mirror. An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI." The Spotify bio goes on to say: "All characters, stories, music, voices and lyrics are original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools employed as creative instruments. Any resemblance to actual places, events or persons - living or deceased - is purely coincidental and unintentional." It concludes: "Not quite human. Not quite machine. The Velvet Sundown lives somewhere in between." Jokes apparently happen in that somewhere in between space, as the band posted on X: "They said we weren't real. Maybe you're not real either." Hilarious. This "ongoing artistic provocation" is not as clever as it thinks it is. It comes during a difficult period in the music industry, where AI-generated music is increasingly polluting listening platforms. A report published last December in Harper's Magazine alleged Spotify is supplementing playlists with "ghost artists" to decrease royalty payouts. These claims were highlighted in Liz Pelly's investigative book "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist." In her book, published by Hodder & Stoughton, the journalist critically examines Spotify's practices and explains that the platform has no qualms when it comes to slipping music generated by fake AI-generated 'artists' into popular playlists. A separate study also released last December estimated that without intervention from policymakers, people working in music are likely to lose more than 20 per cent of their income to AI over the next four years. Conversely, AI developers in the music industry are set to gain €4bn - up from €0.1bn in 2023. These figures come from the first global economic study examining the impact of AI on human creativity, courtesy of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). Many artists are struggling to find fair remuneration in this new digital ecosystem, and have been speaking out against the existential threat AI poses. To The Velvet Sundown - and by extension Spotify - from a "so-called journalist": Your aesthetically soulless "synthetic music project" is a prime example of autocratic tech bros seeking to reduce human creation to algorithms designed to eradicate art. It highlights the artistically barren desire to generate more money, as well as the hypocrisy of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek - who once said the platform "does not download, create or upload any content, whether generated by artificial intelligence or otherwise." Provocations are all well and good; but when they're done at a time when artists are expressing real, legitimate concerns over the ubiquity of AI in a tech-dominated world and the use of their content in the training of AI tools, the stunt comes off as tone-deaf. Worse, morally shameless. None of this means that AI can't be used by those who wish to utilise it as a tool - provided that the use is signaled, thereby allowing listeners to make informed decisions, protect their online information, and lessen their already-prevalent fears of losing control of AI. Or, to put it a way that The Velvet Sundown would understand: regulatory measures need to be put in place so that "voices of reason AREN'T lost in our heads". Take people for morons that just consume stuff by minimizing the unquantifiable beauty of human expression, and you'll find yourself justly haemorrhaging subscribers. The only thing that The Velvet Sundown experiment has achieved, sadly, is disproving the words of "Don Quixote" writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who wrote: "Where there's music there can be no evil."

AI Music Is Taking Over Your Favorite Streaming Platforms: 3 Ways to Avoid It

Artificial intelligence is infiltrating many aspects of modern life, including our music! If you'd rather not listen to AI-generated music on your chosen music streaming service, these steps will help you identify it and avoid it altogether. 3 Identify Whether a Song Was Made by AI AI-generated music is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic music as the technology behind it continues to advance. However, with careful listening, most tracks still reveal subtle clues as to their artificial origins, and with a bit of practice, it becomes easier to see the wizard behind the curtain. 1. Are the Lyrics or Song Titles Generic-Looking or Repetitive? The human factor is typically the most obvious indicator when it comes to identifying AI-generated music. After all, many modern tracks incorporate music technology in one way or another, whether it's a quantized drum loop or a synthesized bass line. However, AI lyrics often lack depth and emotional nuance, and nuance is key to creating convincing and relatable music. AI-generated lyrics are typically generic and follow familiar tropes, without venturing into deeper meanings or storytelling. Look for familiar-looking song titles, vague lyrics, cliches, and unusually repetitive vocal lines. While song lyrics are often ambiguous by nature, those written by human beings frequently rely on metaphors, double meanings, and past experiences, which AI doesn't authentically reproduce. 2. Do the Vocals Lack Emotion It must be said that I am impressed with AI's ability to mimic and even improve real human voices. I have even given my own embarrassingly poor vocals the AI treatment and achieved usable results. However, human vocal performances are typically rooted in experience or meaning that carries significant emotional depth. The key to identifying AI vocals, therefore, isn't so much about spotting perfection as looking for minor imperfections. AI struggles to replicate the nuances that accompany a vocal performance, which include changes in inflection, spontaneous imperfections, breath control, or sibilant sounds that made it into the mix. If a song sounds too perfect in pitch and clarity, with a flawless delivery, or lacks variety in tone and phrasing from one verse to the next, it is likely to be generated by AI. 3. Check the Artist's Background and Social Media Close Social media goes hand in hand with creative pursuits, and almost every artist with a significant following uses it to connect with their fan base. If someone has a minimal online presence, doesn't engage with their fans, and is not forthcoming with information about their roots or their influences, this is a major red flag. AI-generated artists usually have generic bios, revolving around their musical releases and little else. If you check for a personal website, YouTube interviews, live performance dates, collaborations with other musicians, or a Wikipedia page, and come up with nothing, the artist in question is likely AI. This was all too apparent with Spotify's viral AI sensation The Velvet Sundown, which amassed 500,000 monthly listeners before being revealed as a purely AI project. 4. Listen for Unusual Production Patterns Even if you don't create your own music, you are likely naturally familiar with the formulas and structures that comprise a song. You don't have to be Mozart to be able to tell if something sounds "off." If you hear a weird transition, a musical progression that doesn't quite resolve, or inconsistencies in rhythm patterns, it could be that AI is struggling to create a flowing musical tapestry. Human beings, on the other hand, are very good at creating tension and release in music and finding ways to seamlessly bridge the sections that comprise a song. If a song fails to evoke any kind of emotion or lacks dynamics, it may signal that the music is machine-made. 5. Check Songwriting Credits and Contributors Since the decline of physical music media, it's rare that we even think about the people behind the tracks that we listen to, but this is a key identifier as to whether a song is AI-generated. Check the credits on your music streaming service for pseudonyms, aliases, or company names that don't reflect the artist's actual identity, as these often accompany AI tracks. Conversely, if a song is created by humans, you'll usually be able to find a comprehensive list of those involved in its creation, including its producers, engineers, songwriters, arrangers, and featured musicians. A quick search on a music industry database like AllMusic or Discogs will put your suspicions to rest if you're still unsure if a song is AI-generated. 2 Take Back Control of Your Playlists If you don't want to support AI-generated music, there are measures that you can take to back real artists and sustain genuine creativity within the music industry. 1. Curate Your Own Playlists I love the convenience of Spotify's curated playlists and the fact that they introduce me to a lot of new music. However, it's best to avoid those that are created by algorithms or auto-generated, if you don't want to listen to AI-generated tracks. 2. Use Platforms That Prioritize Transparency Some platforms, such as Bandcamp and SoundCloud, prioritize providing detailed artist information and offering support for independent music. I find Bandcamp to be an excellent resource for finding new music by genre, and -- so far -- it is refreshingly free of AI-generated content. Deezer is one of the first music-streaming platforms to actively label AI music, helping you spot and avoid it if you want. 3. Follow Real Musicians There's always a bigger story behind the music. By engaging with the artists themselves, through social media, live performances, or interviews, you gain a deeper understanding of their influences and the creative journey they're on. 4. Show an Interest in Legislation and Ethical Standards As a music fan, I try to stay informed about industry regulations related to AI music. Showing support for transparency in songwriting credits and the correct labeling of algorithm-generated music helps ensure that people are given the choice to decide whether they want to listen to AI-generated music or not. While there's no denying that artificial intelligence is remarkable in what it can do, I'd prefer that it be used only in limited creative ways for music, similar to how we use autotune to improve a vocal. By recognizing the signs of AI in music and staying informed about AI's broader applications in the industry, I still have the power to choose what I listen to, support real artists, and help ensure that human creativity isn't diluted for future generations. 1 Be Aware of the Negative Effects of AI Tracks Music is constantly evolving, and as a musician, I have personally witnessed the transition from recording to DAT tape in studios, to digital home recording, and now to the innovation of AI music creation. One thing is certain: AI-generated music is here to stay, which raises concerns about the future of the music industry and the broader music landscape. We should be aware that, while AI can generate pleasing results, it is increasingly creeping into curated playlists, the media, and commercial releases as a convenient way to generate audio without paying artists royalties. However, convenience always comes at a cost, and in this case, it means that musicians lose out on income and exposure, as machines take their place. As a result, the future of high-quality music is in jeopardy. What used to be a uniquely human experience has now been replaced by a cheap imitation that, while impressive, feels devoid of everything that makes music special, not least on an emotional level. Our creativity is being filtered through a synthetic lens, and we risk flooding the market with formulaic and joyless garbage.

You're Probably Listening to AI Music Without Realizing -- Here's How to Spot It

AI-generated artists are gaining popularity on streaming services, to the point that you're probably listening to AI artists without even realizing it. Thankfully, however, there are ways to spot AI artists. AI Bands Such as The Velvet Sundown Are Increasing in Popularity In case you missed it, a band called The Velvet Sundown has been in the news recently. Not because they have big gigs coming up, or because one of their members has left the band under mysterious circumstances. Instead, it's all because people have realized that The Velvet Sundown is an AI group. Whether entirely or partly, we know that The Velvet Sundown uses artificial intelligence to produce music. Is this necessarily a problem? That depends entirely on your point of view. Human musicians will likely hate the fact that artificially produced music is now competing with them for people's ears. And people who listened to the band without knowing that AI was involved may feel somewhat cheated. Others may not care one way or the other, as long as they genuinely enjoy the music. Either way, we all need to start paying attention to what to look for to spot AI-generated bands on streaming services. How to Spot AI Bands on Spotify and Other Streaming Services There are several different ways to spot AI artists on streaming services, so here's what you need to look (and listen) out for. 1. Generic/Bland Sound Probably the most obvious telltale sign to look out for is the poor quality of music an artist is producing. Due to the nature of how generative AI works, everything that it produces will, by its very nature, be derivative. This is because it can only produce music based on what it has previously absorbed. Hence, AI-generated music just doesn't sound that great. Instead, it will have a generic/bland sound. Is this any different from how humans hear music and then produce sound, somewhat based on that? Not necessarily, but humans have an innate ability to experiment and invent, creating all-new genres or something that sounds original, new, and/or fresh. As it stands right now, artificial intelligence cannot replicate that, leading to music so generic and bland that it becomes a feature. 2. Multiple Albums Releases Close Together Serious artists who write and produce their own music can go years between releasing albums. In the meantime, they will tour that album to death, making serious money now that everyone is streaming rather than buying albums. Pop artists, who often employ other people to write their songs, can release albums more frequently, but it's still usually years, rather than months, between releases. This isn't the case with AI artists, as the people behind that artist can spit out a new album's worth of songs in days, if not hours. This is how The Velvet Sundown has already managed to write, produce, and release three albums in 2025. That sort of release schedule is unheard of for a real musical act, and so it's another obvious telltale sign to look out for. 3. The Artist Doesn't Play Any Gigs As mentioned in the previous entry, real musical artists generally tour between albums. Not only do tours allow fans to see an artist live, but they're also a good source of income in the streaming era. AI artists simply cannot tour, because there are no actual people able to take to the stage. Therefore, it stands to reason that a lack of any gigs, either previously played or forthcoming, is another surefire way to detect the involvement of artificial intelligence. Some streaming services list forthcoming gigs, so that's an easy thing to check. You can also Google the band's name to see where, if anywhere, they have previously performed. Related These 6 Streaming Services Are Actually Worth Paying For Streaming is expensive, but some services are still worth it. Posts 4. Zero Social Media Presence In a similar vein to a lack of live performances, an AI artist is highly unlikely to have a big presence on social media. Now, it should be noted that some very real, human artists also don't bother with social media for various reasons, so this is more of a telltale sign to pair with others on the list. However, it was actually an attempt to join social media that ultimately led to the demise of The Velvet Sundown. If the "band" had retained zero social media presence, it may have never been outed as the product of artificial intelligence. However, once the very obviously AI-generated "photo" of the band was posted online, the whole charade was exposed by internet sleuths, especially when further investigation found that the members looked slightly different in each image of them. 5. Watch Out for an "AI Label" Some streaming services, such as Deezer, have started applying AI-generated labels to artists. Either the artist itself can attach the label, or the streaming service can. Either way, the aim is to make it clear to listeners (and potential fans) that generative artificial intelligence has been used in the writing, recording, and production of the artist's music. If you suspect that a music artist you have started listening to may be employing AI, explore their profile to look for one of these labels. In the case of The Velvet Sundown, once the band went viral, the description on Spotify was changed to describe the band as a "synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence." 6. An Artist Is Employing AI Elsewhere While it may be difficult to detect AI-generated music, the individuals behind the project are likely to utilize AI in other areas. And this may be easier to detect. That was definitely the case with The Velvet Sundown, whose use of AI (though suspected) wasn't widely recognized until the band launched a social media presence. As previously mentioned, the band's photo was clearly generated with AI, suggesting that their music may also have been created with AI. The bottom line is that if an artist is using AI to make music, their use of other forms of AI is almost guaranteed. Short of following the Milli Vanilli example and pretending that real people are behind the band, photos of the band members will likely need to be generated with AI. The people behind the artist may also use AI to write descriptions, social media posts, and the like. Spotting All Forms of AI Content Is Getting Trickier Music is far from the only form of content now regularly being produced by (or at least with the help of) artificial intelligence. As generative AI improves, the chances of spotting it decrease, which is why it's crucial to stay focused and understand what to look for to identify content produced either fully or partly by AI. Related 6 Dead Giveaways the Video You're Watching Is AI-Generated As AI-generated video gets more capable, it's going to become more difficult to spot. However, there are some obvious giveaways. Posts 5 Start by looking for the telltale signs listed above, as any one (or more) could give an AI artist away. Beyond that, trust your instincts, and be on the lookout for something (anything) that feels decidedly off. By using a mixture of common sense and clues, and spending time actively listening to AI music, you should be able to detect music produced by AI. It's then up to you to decide whether to listen to it or not.

This Band Has Millions of Streams on Spotify. The Only Problem -- the Music and the Band Members Were Generated by AI.

If you are one of Velvet Sundown's adoring fans, seeing them perform in a city near you is going to be problematic. After releasing two albums, Floating On Echoes and Dust And Silence, that have earned the group 1.2 million listeners on Spotify, the folk-country music "band" revealed itself to be an AI creation -- everything from their music to their images and backstory. In a post on X from Velvet Sundown's official account, the poster wrote, "The Velvet Sundown is a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence. This isn't a trick - it's a mirror. An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI." Related: Is AI Worth the Layoffs? Inside a CEO's Ethical Nightmare The post went on to state, "All characters, stories, music, voices and lyrics are original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools employed as creative instruments. Any resemblance to actual places, events or persons - living or deceased - is purely coincidental and unintentional. Not quite human. Not quite machine." As The Guardian points out, Spotify and other streaming services are under no legal obligation to identify AI-generated work. This raises concerns over consumer transparency and infringing on the works of the human bands that the AI was trained on, say experts the paper spoke to. Sophie Jones, the chief strategy officer of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), told The Guardian that the organizaion was calling on law makers to "protect copyright and introduce new transparency obligations for AI companies so that music rights can be licensed and enforced, as well as calling for the clear labelling of content solely generated by AI." Related: 10 AI-Proof Jobs With Highest Pay, Fastest Growth Jones added, "The rise of AI-generated bands and music entering the market points to the fact that tech companies have been training AI models using creative works - largely without authorisation or payment to creators and rights-holders - in order to directly compete with human artistry." Velvet Sundown isn't the first AI-generated music act to gain traction. The 2023 track "Heart on My Sleeve" was created using AI-generated voices that mimicked The Weeknd and Drake, and Variety reports that the human behind the song submitted it for Grammy consideration.

AI Band Shocks the World : The Velvet Sundown's Viral Rise

What if your favorite indie band didn't exist -- at least, not in the way you think? Imagine discovering a playlist gem, only to learn it was entirely crafted by artificial intelligence. That's the story of "The Velvet Sundown," a viral AI-generated band that's rewriting the rules of music creation and distribution. With tracks that feel as authentic and emotionally resonant as human-made hits, this project challenges our understanding of creativity and artistry in the digital age. As AI tools become more sophisticated, they're not just assisting musicians -- they're becoming the musicians, raising questions about the future of music itself. Matt Wolfe uncovers how AI is transforming every stage of the music-making process, from crafting melodies to designing album art and reaching global audiences. You'll discover the tools and strategies behind "The Velvet Sundown's" success, learn how AI-generated music can rival traditional artistry, and consider the ethical dilemmas posed by this technological leap. Whether you're an artist curious about AI's potential or a listener intrigued by its impact, this report offers a glimpse into a future where creativity and code collide. How will this shift reshape the way we connect with music -- and the people (or machines) behind it? AI tools are transforming the way music is created, breaking down traditional barriers and making the process more accessible. Platforms like Suno.com empower users to generate music in customizable styles, complete with unique personas and tailored lyrics. These tools allow creators to produce songs that resonate with specific audiences, bypassing many of the challenges associated with traditional songwriting and production. For example, "The Velvet Sundown" used AI to craft tracks that emulated the sound of popular indie bands. The result was music that felt authentic and emotionally engaging, despite being entirely machine-generated. This demonstrates how AI can replicate human creativity while offering limitless opportunities for experimentation. By using these tools, you can create music that aligns with your artistic vision and appeals to diverse audiences. AI is not only transforming music creation but also redefining how bands establish their visual identity. Tools like ChatGPT's image generation models enable you to design consistent and compelling visuals for social media, album covers, and promotional campaigns. For "The Velvet Sundown," AI-generated imagery was instrumental in creating a cohesive aesthetic that resonated with fans and reinforced the band's identity. By using AI to develop character visuals and promotional materials, you can ensure your band maintains a unified and professional brand image across all platforms. This approach simplifies the branding process, allowing you to focus on other creative endeavors while making sure your band stands out in a competitive market. A strong, visually appealing brand can significantly enhance your band's appeal and help you connect with your target audience. Discover other guides from our vast content that could be of interest on AI-generated music. The distribution of AI-generated music has become more seamless than ever, thanks to platforms like DistroKid. These services allow you to upload your tracks to Spotify and other streaming platforms, making sure your music reaches a global audience. Once on Spotify, your songs can benefit from advanced recommendation algorithms that introduce your music to listeners based on their preferences. "The Velvet Sundown" effectively used these algorithms to gain visibility among fans of similar genres. By strategically releasing singles and albums, the band quickly amassed streams and downloads, demonstrating that AI-generated music can compete with traditional artists in the digital age. With the right distribution strategy, you can maximize your music's reach and impact, using AI to connect with listeners worldwide. The viral success of "The Velvet Sundown" underscores the power of AI in amplifying music promotion. Spotify's recommendation algorithms played a crucial role in introducing the band's music to new listeners, driving rapid growth in popularity. Additionally, the band's consistent branding and high-quality visuals helped it stand out in a crowded marketplace. This success highlights the potential of AI-generated music to capture attention and resonate with audiences, even in a highly competitive landscape. By effectively combining AI tools with strategic promotion, you can create music that not only reaches listeners but also leaves a lasting impression. The key lies in understanding how to use AI to enhance both the creative and promotional aspects of your music. While AI-generated music offers exciting opportunities, it also raises important ethical and industry-related questions. Critics argue that the rise of AI-generated music could devalue human artistry, as machine-created songs flood streaming platforms. There is also concern that companies like Spotify might use AI to produce music internally, potentially reducing royalty payouts to human artists. As a listener, you may wonder whether AI-generated music can truly replicate the emotional depth and authenticity of human-created songs. These concerns highlight the need for ongoing discussions about the role of AI in the music industry and its impact on artists, audiences, and the value of creativity. Balancing innovation with ethical considerations will be essential as AI continues to shape the future of music. The success of "The Velvet Sundown" represents a pivotal moment in the music industry, as AI-generated content becomes increasingly mainstream. Younger, tech-savvy generations are likely to embrace this trend, reshaping how music is created, consumed, and valued. For artists and creators, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities, requiring them to adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape where technology and creativity intersect. As AI technology advances, its influence on music will only grow. By understanding the tools, strategies, and implications of AI-generated music, you can stay ahead of the curve and explore new possibilities for artistic expression. Whether you are an artist, producer, or listener, the integration of AI into music offers a unique opportunity to redefine creativity and innovation in the digital age.

'We're AI,' popular indie rock band admits

Paris, France -- An indie rock band with more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify has owned up to being an AI-generated music project following days of speculation about whether the group was real. Named Velvet Sundown -- seemingly a nod to Lou Reed's band The Velvet Underground -- the digital group has become a viral hit, generating ferocious online discussion after racking up hundreds of thousands of listens. An updated Spotify profile, consulted on Tuesday by AFP, admitted that the group was an "ongoing artistic provocation." "All characters, stories, music, voices and lyrics are original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools employed as creative instruments," Velvet Sundown's profile added. Recently created social media profiles, featuring photos of the group that look suspiciously fake, have teased readers about the group's origins, offering often contradictory information. Experts have long warned about the dangers of AI-image, video and music generators blurring the lines between the real and fake. A major study in December by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), which represents more than five million creators worldwide, warned about the danger of AI-generated music. It forecast that artists could see their incomes shrink by more than 20 percent in the next four years as the market for AI-composed music grows. Stockholm-based streamer Spotify declined to comment directly about Velvet Sundown when contacted by AFP. Spokeswoman Geraldine Igou wrote that the platform does not "prioritize or benefit financially from music created using AI tools." "All tracks are created, owned, and uploaded by licensed third parties," Igou insisted. Rival music streaming service Deezer displayed a warning for "AI-generated content" for Velvet Sundown. "Some tracks on this album may have been created using artificial intelligence," it said. The Spotify rival has an AI-music detection tool that is able to identify songs generated using popular software models such as Suno and Udio. Deezer said in April that it was receiving more than 20,000 fully AI-generated tracks on a daily basis, comprising 18 percent of all uploaded content, an increase from the previously reported 10 percent in January. Reports on Tuesday said an imposter posing as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been using AI-generated voice and text messages to high-level officials and foreign ministers.

Music Is At The Forefront Of AI Disruption, But NZ Artists Still Have Few Protections

Was the recent Velvet Sundown phenomenon a great music and media hoax, a sign of things to come, or just another example of what's already happening ? In case you missed it, the breakout act was streamed hundreds of thousands of times before claims emerged the band and their music were products of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Despite the "band" insisting they were real, an "associate" later admitted it was indeed an "art hoax" marketing stunt. Much of the subsequent commentary was concerned with fairness - particularly that a "fake" band was succeeding at the expense of "real" artists. But Velvet Sundown is only the most recent example in a long history of computer generated and assisted music creation - going back to the 1950s when a chemistry professor named Lejaren Hiller debuted a musical composition written by a computer. By the 1980s, David Cope's Experiments in Musical Intelligence created music so close to the style of Chopin and Bach it fooled classically trained musicians. Artist and composer Holly Herndon was highlighting a need for the ethical use and licensing of voice models and deepfakes several years before Grimes invited others to use AI-generated versions of her voice to make new music, and "Deepfake Drake" alarmed the major record labels. Despite this relatively long history of technology's impact on music, it still tends to be framed as a future challenge. The New Zealand government's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, released this month, suggests we're at a "pivotal moment" as the AI-powered future approaches. In June, a draft insight briefing from Manata Taonga/Ministry for Culture & Heritage explored "how digital technologies may transform the ways New Zealanders create, share and protect stories in 2040 and beyond". It joins other recent publications by the Australasian Performing Rights Association and New Zealand's Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association, which grapple with the future impacts of AI technologies. One of the main issues is the use of copyright material to train AI systems. Last year, two AI startups, including the one used by Velvet Sundown, were sued by Sony, Universal and Warner for using unlicensed recordings as part of their training data. It's possible the models have been trained on recordings by local musicians without their permission, too. But without any requirement for tech firms to disclose their training data it can't be confirmed. Even if we did know, the copyright implications for works created by AI in Aotearoa New Zealand aren't clear. And it's not possible for musicians to opt out in any meaningful way. This goes against the data governance model designed by Te Mana Raraunga/Māori Sovereignty Network. Māori writer members of music rights administrator APRA AMCOS have also raised concerns about potential cultural appropriation and misuse due to GenAI. Recent research suggesting GenAI work displaces human output in creative industries is particularly worrying for local musicians who already struggle for visibility. But it's not an isolated phenomenon. In Australia, GenAI has reportedly been used to impersonate successful, emerging and dead artists. And French streaming service Deezer claims up to 20,000 tracks created by GenAI were being uploaded to its service daily. There has been increased scrutiny of streaming fraud, including a world-first criminal case brought last year against a musician who used bots to generate millions of streams for tracks created with GenAI. The European Union has enacted legislation requiring AI services to be transparent about what they have trained their models on, an important first step towards an AI licensing regime for recorded and musical works. An Australian senate committee has recommended whole-of-economy AI guardrails, including transparency requirements in line with the EU. Denmark has gone even further, with plans to give every citizen copyright of their own facial features, voice and body, including specific protections for performing artists. It's nearly ten years since the music business was described as the "canary in a coalmine" for other industries and a bellwether of broader cultural and economic shifts. How we address the current challenges presented by AI in music will have far-reaching implications.