Tidal announced new policies on AI-generated music aimed at protecting artists and informing listeners. Starting today, tracks the platform identifies as 100 percent AI-generated will no longer be monetizable, and beginning July 15th, Tidal will label those tracks with an icon. The company said its priority is ensuring royalties go to original works directly produced, written, and performed by people, and it will not knowingly attribute royalties to music it identifies as wholly AI-generated.
Tidal did not specify what tools it uses to identify AI-generated music, but said that as detection tools improve, it plans to also label uploads that are "substantially AI-generated." The platform also said it will "begin to enforce" an expectation that content distributors properly label AI-generated music. Starting in mid-July, Tidal will remove or block AI-generated music associated with fraudulent activity, including music designed to deceive listeners or interfere with authentic artists, high-volume uploads, or "unusual streaming activity."
Tidal's competitors have previously taken steps to address the influx of AI-generated music. In April, Spotify launched a verification program that gives some confirmed real artists a green checkmark and "Verified by Spotify" badge, while profiles that primarily upload AI-generated content are not eligible. Deezer has also developed detection tools for fully AI-generated music and recently created a website that lets users scan playlists on other streaming platforms to detect AI-generated tracks.