Tidal Will Not Pay Royalties for AI-Generated Music

Tidal has decided not to pay royalties for music generated by artificial intelligence. However, contrary to what many might expect, the platform is not completely banning this type of content. Starting in July, Tidal will label tracks that are 100% generated by AI. This means that while the music will not be removed, it will no longer be monetizable from today.

The central issue here is to protect artists and inform listeners. Tidal wants to ensure that royalties go to original works, produced, written, and performed by people. The company has made it clear that it will not attribute royalties to songs it identifies as fully generated by AI. The detail is that the platform has not yet specified which tools it is using to make this identification. However, as the tools improve, the idea is to also label uploads that are substantially generated by AI.

The Responsibility Is Not Just Tidal's

In addition to its own detection tools, Tidal warns that it is not solely its responsibility to identify AI-generated music. The platform will begin requiring content distributors to correctly label these songs. This is part of an effort to discourage the use of AI tools that may exploit someone's music, name, or image, deceive listeners, or diminish the quality of the service.

Starting in mid-July, Tidal will also remove or block AI-generated songs associated with fraudulent activities. This includes songs designed to deceive listeners or interfere with authentic artists, high-volume uploads, or unusual streaming activities. It is an attempt to maintain the integrity of what is offered to listeners.

How Competitors Are Handling This

Other streaming platforms are also keeping an eye on AI-generated music. In April, Spotify launched a verification program that gives a "Spotify Verified" badge to artists that the company confirms are real people. Profiles that primarily upload AI-generated content are not eligible for this distinction. Meanwhile, Deezer has developed tools to detect songs that are fully generated by AI when they are uploaded, reducing their visibility on the platform. Last month, Deezer even created a website to scan its playlists on other streaming platforms and detect AI-generated tracks.