Music distributors agree to vet AI tracks before streaming; India absent
The IFPI has launched new commitments for music distributors to combat fraud and vet AI-generated music. No Indian companies have yet signed, despite India's heavy reliance on streaming.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has launched the Streaming Integrity Initiative, supported by 27 music distributors and trade bodies. The initiative aims to combat fraud in music streaming by implementing stricter vetting processes, including for AI-generated music, before it reaches platforms.
The initiative requires distributors to verify customer identities, check for content infringement using lyrics and metadata, and employ audio recognition technologies. It also mandates the identification of AI-generated content and the proactive blocking of any material that infringes on voice, name, image, or likeness rights. Distributors are expected to detect streaming anomalies and report fraudulent activity.
This shift places responsibility on distributors to identify and prevent fraudulent streams and AI-generated content before it enters the royalty pool. While not prohibiting AI music, the initiative requires distributors to identify it and assess associated risks, such as its use in generating artificial streams.
Notably, no Indian companies or industry bodies have signed these commitments. This is significant as India's music industry is heavily reliant on streaming. Major Indian music companies like T-Series and Saregama, which distribute substantial catalogs, are not part of the agreement, leaving a significant portion of Indian music outside these new integrity measures. The Indian Music Industry (IMI) has also not joined the initiative.