AI-driven music creation tools from platforms like Suno and Udio have reshaped how music is produced and discovered, but they also raise concerns about quality and authenticity. As AI-generated content proliferates on streaming services, listeners and artists alike question what constitutes real music.
In response, Spotify is rolling out comprehensive policies aimed at curbing content pollution, imitations, and a lack of transparency. A spokesperson described the effort as a way to safeguard genuine artists from spam and deception while remaining open to artists who use AI as a tool.
Transparency is a core goal of the policy package. Spotify is teaming with the music standards body DDEX to develop a metadata framework that clearly signals AI involvement at any stage of a track’s production—whether in vocals, instrument creation, mixing, or mastering. Marketing and Policy Head Sam Duboff noted that 15 record labels and distributors have committed to adopting this standard, signaling a potential watershed for the industry.
Beyond AI disclosure, the platform is intensifying its guard against imitations and spam uploads. The company affirmed a ban on all forms of vocal imitation, including unauthorized AI voice clones and deepfakes. In the coming weeks, a new filtering system will be deployed to detect and reduce spam content. The filters will target users who upload low-quality tracks (over 30 seconds) to claim copyright or repeatedly re-upload the same songs with altered metadata.
Spotify also highlighted its progress over the past year, noting the removal of 75 million spam contents from its service as part of its ongoing cleanup efforts.
