Music streaming service Tidal will start labelling music created wholly or largely with artificial intelligence (AI). The company will also stop paying royalties on fully AI-generated songs. The new policy takes effect on July 15.

The rules also apply to Tidal Upload, the platform’s service for independent artists. Tidal will also ban AI-generated songs linked to fraudulent activity. This includes tracks that copy established artists or try to deceive listeners.

Explaining the decision, the company said, “Artists should have the freedom to create with AI tools, and listeners should have the autonomy to choose the type of content they consume. Due to the problems associated with the influx of AI-generated content, we will hold AI-generated content to a higher standard of content integrity.”

AI use continues to grow

Tidal said AI tools have been used in music production for years. However, they have become more common and advanced. The company will first label fully AI-generated songs. It plans to expand the labels to music that is largely AI-generated as detection technology improves.

The policy differs from those of Spotify and Apple Music. Those platforms rely on artists and distributors to disclose AI-generated content. Billboard reported that Apple Music told partners in March that AI-generated songs made up less than one per cent of weekly plays.

Royalties reserved for human-created music

Robert Andersen, the Tidal lead at developer Block, said the platform receives a large amount of AI-generated music from third-party distributors.

“It has been clear for some time that we need to evolve our platform and standards to deal with this new type of submission to our catalogue,” he wrote, “so today we are announcing an AI-generated music policy designed to provide a great experience for our listeners, while protecting the authenticity and livelihoods of artists and rightholders.”

Tidal said the royalty rule is aimed at protecting human creators. The company added, “Tidal’s priority is ensuring royalties go to original works directly produced, written, and performed by people. We will therefore not knowingly attribute royalties to music we identify as wholly AI-generated.”

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