Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the music industry, but not without controversy. The rise of AI-generated songs is causing concern among professionals due to the potential for fraudulent streaming practices that impact the earnings of real artists. Platforms like Deezer and Spotify are at the forefront of this issue, with Deezer reporting that over 60,000 AI-generated tracks are uploaded daily, accounting for 39% of their daily submissions. In 2025 alone, more than 13.4 million such tracks were identified, with approximately 85% of their streams deemed fraudulent, often inflated by bots or fake listeners.
The influx of AI-generated music has led to significant challenges for streaming services. Deezer, for instance, has stopped compensating creators of tracks identified as fraudulent. Meanwhile, Spotify has removed over 75 million spam tracks between September 2024 and September 2025, a period marked by the surge of generative AI tools. Both platforms are under pressure to enhance their detection and prevention measures against such fraudulent activities.
The ease of generating music using AI has led to a rise in fraudulent practices, with some individuals even offering courses on how to profit from these methods. Despite the allure of easy money, legitimate monetization on platforms requires meeting specific criteria, such as a minimum number of streams and listening duration. The fraudulent increase in streams dilutes the royalty pool, reducing the earnings of genuine artists.
In response to these challenges, streaming platforms are developing new strategies to combat fraud. Spotify plans to introduce a filter to identify and label AI-generated tracks, while Deezer has launched a tool to detect and mark such music, removing it from algorithmic recommendations. This transparency aims to give users a clear choice while making it harder for fraudsters to manipulate the system.
Despite the prevalence of AI in music creation, public acceptance remains mixed. A survey by “The Hollywood Reporter” found that 52% of Americans are reluctant to listen to music produced with AI assistance. Interestingly, a Reuters study revealed that most people struggle to distinguish between human-composed and AI-generated music. As AI becomes more integrated into creative processes, the industry continues to grapple with its implications.
