+44 1753 439 289 michelle@greatbritishtalent.com
Introduction: When Machines Create Music for Machines
A new kind of fraud is quietly reshaping the music industry. It begins with artificial intelligence generating massive volumes of music in minutes. It ends with automated bots endlessly streaming those tracks to manipulate royalty systems and siphon money from legitimate artists.
In this strange loop, machines compose the songs, machines listen to them, and humans are left footing the bill. The response from streaming platforms? Deploy even more automation to fight the abuse.
As AI tools become cheaper, faster, and more accessible, this issue is escalating rapidly—and the financial and ethical consequences are enormous.
The Industrial Scale of AI-Generated Music
AI music is no longer a novelty or experimental tool used sparingly by producers. It has become an industrial operation.
One of the clearest indicators of this shift comes from Deezer, a France-based streaming platform comparable to Spotify or Apple Music. According to Deezer’s internal data, roughly 60,000 fully AI-generated tracks are uploaded every single day, representing more than one-third of all new content on the platform.
To put that number into perspective, the entire U.S. music industry released around 57,000 songs in 2015. Today, the same volume of music can be generated by AI systems in under 24 hours.
Looking ahead, Deezer estimates it could receive over 21 million AI-generated tracks per year—and even that figure may underestimate the pace of growth as generative tools continue to improve.
How AI Music Streaming Fraud Works
Step 1: Mass Music Generation
Fraudsters use AI tools to create thousands—or even millions—of tracks at minimal cost. These songs often mimic popular genres, moods, or background music styles designed to blend seamlessly into playlists.
Step 2: Uploading to Streaming Platforms
Once generated, the tracks are uploaded to streaming services under fake artist names or shell accounts. Individually, the songs may appear harmless or unremarkable.
Step 3: Bot-Driven Streaming Manipulation
The real fraud begins when automated bots repeatedly stream these tracks around the clock. Because royalties are calculated based on total streams, this artificial activity generates real money.
In short: fake music + fake listeners = real payouts.
Why the Music Itself Isn’t the Crime
Interestingly, the AI-generated tracks themselves are not illegal. The fraud lies in the behaviour surrounding the music, not in its creation.
Romain Hennequin, Deezer’s head of research, explains that the platform has developed detection systems that identify AI-generated music by analysing subtle technical characteristics—features far too small for human listeners to notice.
However, the more serious issue is not whether the music is AI-generated, but whether genuine listeners are consuming it.
Is there any AI music out there that is good?
Spotify showcase a a best of playlist including Sunio, Udio and many others which illustrate the level to which these platforms can now operate. Take a listen and decide for yourself.
The Scale of Fraudulent Streaming Activity
According to Thibault Roucou, Deezer’s head of royalties, fraudulent behaviour dominates listening activity for fully AI-generated tracks.
Deezer uses systems similar to those employed by financial institutions to detect unusual payment activity. These algorithms flag patterns such as:
- Continuous 24/7 listening
- Identical streaming behaviour across accounts
- Abnormally high repeat plays
- Lack of human interaction signals
Based on these indicators, Deezer estimates that up to 85% of streams associated with fully AI-generated music are fraudulent.
This is not a marginal problem caused by a handful of bad actors—it is systemic and widespread.
Below: an excellent review of the rise of ai artists from YoPaulie Music | Tech • Truth • Commentary
How Streaming Royalties Really Work
The Shared Royalty Pool Explained
Streaming services do not pay artists a fixed amount per play. Instead, they collect subscription and advertising revenue into a shared royalties pool.
Artists are then paid based on their share of total streams across the platform.
This means that when fraudulent streams inflate listening numbers, they dilute the pool, reducing payouts for everyone else.
Why Fraud Hurts Real Artists
Every fake stream effectively steals money from legitimate musicians. Even artists with loyal audiences see their earnings shrink when bots dominate the system.
According to Deezer CEO Alexis Lanternier, the platform detects that 8–9% of total streams are fraudulent. When extrapolated across the global music industry, this could represent $2–3 billion in lost revenue annually.
An Ongoing Technological Arms Race
Streaming platforms are fighting back—but it is far from a solved problem.
Deezer uses automated systems to:
- Detect AI-generated content
- Identify abnormal streaming behaviour
- Block fraudulent streams from generating royalties
However, fraudsters constantly evolve their methods to evade detection.
“This is an ongoing battle,” Roucou says. “We may never fully eliminate the problem, but our goal is to prevent fraudsters from taking too much money from other artists.”
In effect, the music industry has entered a technological arms race, with bots battling counter-bots behind the scenes.
Artists React: Anger, Fear, and Frustration
Human musicians are deeply concerned about what this trend means for their livelihoods.
Folk artist Lila Tristram expressed outrage at the idea that already-limited streaming income is being eroded further by automated abuse.
“As artists, we already receive such a small fraction of what our work generates,” she says. “To have that reduced even more by robots gaming the system—it makes my blood boil.”
Aidan Grant, founder of music production agency Different Sauce, warns that without stronger safeguards, the situation could spiral out of control.
“The industry needs to get a handle on this quickly,” he says. “Otherwise, the system risks becoming completely distorted.”
Should AI-Generated Music Be Labelled?
Deezer’s Transparency Approach
Deezer has taken a bold step by labelling fully AI-generated tracks on its platform. The goal is transparency—for listeners, artists, and rights holders.
Currently, Deezer is the only major streaming service to adopt this approach.
Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube’s Position
Spotify has chosen not to label AI-generated tracks, citing concerns that labelling could stigmatise artists who use AI tools as part of their creative process.
This is a legitimate concern in an era where AI-assisted production is becoming increasingly common—even among traditional musicians.
YouTube and Apple Music also do not label AI music. YouTube says it asks creators to disclose AI content if it appears realistic, while Apple has not publicly commented on its policy.
Platform Enforcement: Removing Spam at Scale
While labelling policies differ, platforms agree on one thing: fraudulent activity must be addressed.
Spotify revealed that it removed 75 million spam tracks in a single year, many of which were likely AI-generated. For context, Spotify’s entire catalogue contains approximately 100 million songs.
This highlights just how severe the problem has become.
Is There Any Good News for Human Musicians?
Despite the flood of AI-generated content, listener behaviour offers a small measure of hope.
While some AI tracks have gone viral or accumulated millions of streams, there is currently limited organic demand for AI music outside of novelty moments and fraudulent manipulation.
Most successful music still relies on:
- Human storytelling
- Emotional authenticity
- Live performance
- Personal branding and promotion
For now, audiences continue to gravitate toward artists with a genuine human connection.
The Future of AI Music and Streaming Platforms
AI-generated music is not going away. The technology is too powerful, too accessible, and too economically attractive.
The real question is how the music industry adapts.
Possible future solutions include:
- More advanced music streaming fraud detection
- User-centric payment models for streaming royalties
- Mandatory AI disclosure rules
- Legal frameworks addressing automated manipulation
- New definitions of authorship and ownership
Ultimately, the survival of a fair streaming economy may depend on whether platforms can balance innovation with accountability.
If you want to find out more about AI and technology in music the one of our music artists LJ Rich also speaks and writes about AI music
LJ Rich is a world-renowned AI Music Artist and TV broadcaster.
She co-curates the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit each year and has presented on the international technology show BBC Click for over a decade.
Recognised as a thought leader in AI and machine learning, LJ incorporates these technologies into her musical compositions, delivering performances that showcase the fusion of art and technology.
From voice cloning to cross-genre AI music generation, LJ was among the first to work creatively with Gen AI and is considered a thought leader on how machine learning and creativity are evolving.
Conclusion: The Human Element Still Matters
AI may be able to generate infinite music, but it cannot replicate human experience, emotion, or cultural connection—at least not yet.
For now, meaningful success in music still requires a human voice behind the sound. Whether the industry can protect that value in an age of automation remains an open—and urgent—question.
About the author, Guy Griffin
Guy Griffin is a British musician, guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known as a founding member of the iconic rock band The Quireboys. Formed in London in the mid-1980s, The Quireboys blended gritty rhythm and blues with classic rock swagger, drawing comparisons to The Faces and The Rolling Stones. Griffin’s soulful guitar work and melodic sensibilities have been central to the band’s distinctive sound from the start.
As a co-writer on many of The Quireboys’ most enduring songs—including fan favourites from their acclaimed debut A Bit of What You Fancy (1990)—Griffin has helped shape the group’s reputation for heartfelt storytelling and raw, authentic rock energy. Following the band’s resurgence in the 2000s, Griffin took on a greater leadership role, steering their musical direction and contributing to albums such as Beautiful Curse and Amazing Disgrace.
Renowned for his dynamic stage presence and tight musicianship, Griffin continues to perform and record, keeping The Quireboys’ spirit alive for new generations of fans. Balancing vintage rock influences with contemporary grit, his career reflects a lifelong dedication to the craft of songwriting and performance—cementing his status as one of the most respected figures in modern British rock.
In 2025, he teamed up with partner Michelle Livings to create Great British Musicians, part of Great British Talent.
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