AI-generated music floods streaming platforms without artist consent
Tens of thousands of AI-generated songs are being uploaded daily to streaming platforms, reportedly trained on existing artists' work without permission or compensation. Musicians warn that the volume of AI content makes it harder for human artists to be discovered and undermines their already unequal earnings from streaming services.
What happened
Tens of thousands of AI-generated songs are being uploaded to streaming platforms daily. Deezer reported receiving 20,000 fully AI-generated songs per day as of April 2025.
The AI models used to create these songs are trained on works by human artists without their consent or knowledge. Musicians report that specialized providers have taken their songs to develop apps that generate millions and billions in revenue.
Reported impact
The volume of AI-generated content makes it harder for human musicians to stand out on streaming platforms. A singer noted that the mass of AI-flooded music increases difficulty for human artists to be discovered.
A Gema and Sacem study from January 2024 found that 27 percent of creator revenues are at risk, with potential losses in Germany and France by 2028. Existing revenue inequality worsens: 75 percent of all streaming service revenues went to just 0.1 percent of artists in 2023.
Index analysis
Gema, which represents around 95,000 members in the German music industry, warned that AI could further sharpen the problem of unequal income distribution. Industry representatives described AI as a 'fire accelerator for a long-smoldering fire' given that streaming services already concentrate revenues among a small fraction of artists.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.