Sony Music Demands Removal of AI-Generated Songs Impersonating Artists
Sony Music Entertainment has requested digital platforms to remove over 260,000 AI-generated tracks impersonating its artists. The number of removal requests nearly doubled from March.
Sony Music Entertainment has asked digital music platforms to remove more than 260,000 AI-generated songs that mimic its artists' voices and likenesses without authorization. The company's September request nearly doubled the 135,000 tracks flagged in March.
The music giant stated that these deepfake tracks utilize generative AI to imitate artists, including Adele, Britney Spears, and Queen. Sony Music described the practice as "happening at scale," harming artists, misleading fans, and undermining ethical AI use.
Dennis Kooker, President of Global Digital Business at Sony Music, indicated that fraudulent streams could account for as much as 10% of all tracks on music streaming sites. Industry executives estimate that streaming fraud costs the music sector up to $2.2 billion annually.
French streaming service Deezer disclosed in the summer that its platform sees an average of 90,000 AI-generated song uploads daily, over half of all new music. Deezer also found that 85% of AI-generated song streams were fraudulent last year.