Music streaming platform Deezer has introduced a new labeling system to identify AI-generated songs and stop streaming fraud.
The company, based in Paris, will now tag albums that include AI-generated music. Listeners will see a visible label that warns them when some or all tracks are not made by human artists.
Some users are creating music with no artistic intent. Instead, they upload thousands of AI tracks and use bots to stream them repeatedly to collect royalties.
AI-Generated Tracks
According to Deezer’s internal data, AI-generated music now makes up 18% of daily uploads to the platform.
However, just three months ago, that number was 10%. Deezer CEO Alexis Lanternier confirmed that most of these uploads are not being created by genuine artists.
Many appear to be the work of automated systems designed to mimic music and trick streaming platforms.
“These fraudsters don’t want to create, they want to earn. They flood the system, get into playlists, and make money from fake streams,” Lanternier said.
Blocking Fraud, Protecting Artists
To respond, Deezer has set up a tagging system. It will not only flag AI-generated songs but also block them from earning royalties if they are part of stream manipulation.
This means that if a song is streamed mostly by bots, it won’t generate income. The aim is to protect real musicians and ensure fair payment across the platform.
Lanternier made it clear that Deezer supports artists who use AI creatively. However, there must be a human behind the process. Full automation without artistic involvement is not acceptable.
Using AI to Fight AI
Interestingly, Deezer is using AI to fight this same problem. Its detection tool learns from the same AI music generators used to create the songs.
By analyzing thousands of tracks, the system can detect common patterns found in machine-made music. These patterns are subtle but consistent.
To deal with changing AI models, Deezer updates its tools daily to stay ahead. “We fight AI with AI,” Lanternier explained.
The Cost of Streaming Fraud
The financial impact of AI-generated fraud is serious. Last year, U.S. authorities charged a man with wire fraud for using bots to stream fake songs billions of times.
He allegedly earned more than $10 million. This proves that fraudsters can profit heavily from streaming systems if unchecked.
Legal Pressure
Deezer’s occurs at a time when the music industry faces legal battles over AI tools. Suno and Udio, two popular AI music generators, are under fire.
Record labels have sued them for copying and reusing copyrighted songs without permission.
Some generated songs sound remarkably similar to well-known hits, including tracks by Mariah Carey, Chuck Berry, and Boney M.
In Germany, the collection group GEMA has also filed a lawsuit against Suno. It claims the platform creates music that is “confusingly similar” to existing songs.
Negotiations between music companies and AI developers are ongoing, and compensation and clearer rules may follow.
