Spotify plans to begin labeling AI-generated music

A viral remix of “Papaoutai,” the 2013 hit by Stromae, has become one of the clearest signs of how fast AI-generated music is reshaping streaming platforms.

The French-language afro-soul remix surged across platforms in late 2025 and now has nearly 140 million Spotify streams. Many listeners did not realise the version was created using AI. This shows how difficult it has become to detect synthetic music.

This matter is pushing Spotify and rivals to rethink how music should be verified, labelled, and moderated as AI-generated uploads flood platforms.

AI-created tracks now make up 44% of all new music uploads on Deezer, according to the company. Deezer also said 97% of surveyed listeners could not reliably distinguish between AI-generated and human-made songs.

“We believe that to truly unlock the positives and the potential in AI, we need to protect against the worst,” Bryan Johnson, Spotify’s Head of Artist & Industry Partnerships, told TechCabal during an event at the company’s new South African office in Johannesburg on May 14.

Spotify said one of its biggest concerns is spam and deceptive uploads. Johnson said the platform removed 75 million spam tracks over the past year. AI tools have made the mass production of music easier.

In September 2025, Spotify introduced an updated spam filter designed to identify mass uploads, duplicate tracks, SEO manipulation, artificially short songs, and other low-quality content. Tracks flagged by the system are prevented from appearing in recommendations.

The company is also changing its artist verification process. Under its new “Verified by Spotify” system, artists must now show sustained listener engagement and evidence of real-world activity, including performances, ticket sales, or merchandise sales.

“We want regular listening,” Johnson said. “I think it is at least 10,000 monthly active listeners over three consecutive months.”

Spotify is also testing “AI credits,” which would allow artists and labels to disclose whether AI tools were used in songwriting, production, or instrumentation.

The platform said the goal is to improve transparency as AI-generated voices and music become harder to separate from human-created work.

The changes reflect a broader industry shift. Deezer began tagging AI-generated tracks in 2025 and said it labelled more than 13.4 million AI songs that year alone.

Streaming companies are now moving beyond music distribution and increasingly deciding what authenticity should look like in the AI era.