Spotify, the world's largest music streaming service, has announced that it is working with major labels on the “responsible” use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The firm said it wants to create artificial intelligence tools that “put artists and songwriters first” and respect their copyrights.
The streaming giant will license music from three record labels that make up the vast majority of the industry: Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group.
However, critics say adding more artificial intelligence to the platform will reduce streaming revenue for artists.
The deal also includes music rights firm Merlin and digital music company Believe.
It's unclear what exactly these AI tools will look like, but Spotify says it has already started working on its first products.
Spotify said it recognizes that there is a “wide range of views on the use of generative musical tools in the creative community” and plans to give artists the opportunity to choose whether they want to participate.
It includes such outstanding musicians as Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John And Sir Paul McCartney took a stand against AI companies that teach generative AI tools to their music without payment or permission.
Spotify said it will ensure that artists, songwriters and rights holders are “appropriately compensated for the use of their works and transparently recognized for their contributions.”
This will happen through “preliminary agreements” rather than “asking for forgiveness later.”
“Technology should always serve the artist, not the other way around,” said firm co-president Alex Norstrom.
New Orleans-based MidCitizen Entertainment said artificial intelligence has “polluted the creative ecosystem.”
Managing partner Max Bonanno said AI-generated songs have “diluted the already limited share of revenue artists receive from streaming royalties.”
But the announcement was welcomed by Ed Newton-Rex, founder of Fairly Trained, which advocates for artificial intelligence firms to respect the rights of creators.
“Much of the artificial intelligence industry is exploitative: artificial intelligence is created from the work of people without permission and served by users who have no say in the matter,” he told BBC News.
“This is different – AI features created honestly, with the permission of the artists, are presented to fans as a voluntary addition, rather than an inevitable vortex of AI waste.
“The devil is in the details, but this looks like a move towards a more ethical AI industry that is desperately needed.”
Spotify has always said that it does not create music in-house, using artificial intelligence or otherwise.
However, it uses this technology to create custom playlists such as “daily list” and AI DJ.
This also hosts music created by artificial intelligence. on its platform and recently announced it went after artists who failed to disclose their use of AI or used it to impersonate real artists.
For example, a viral song created by artificial intelligence using voice clones of Drake and The Weeknd was removed from streaming service in 2023.
The company also said that AI is now used in many stages of the songwriting process, such as autotune, mixing and mastering.
The Beatles' latest Grammy Award-winning single, released in 2023: used AI clean up John Lennon's voice from an old audio recording.
“We are constantly striving to make artificial intelligence work for artists and songwriters, not against them,” said Warner Music Group chief executive Robert Kinkle.
“This means working with partners who understand the need for new AI licensing agreements that protect and compensate copyright holders and the creative community.”
