Tidal to Label AI-Generated Music, Ban Royalties from AI Song Streams

Tidal, the music streaming platform, has introduced a new rule that mandates artists to clearly identify any songs created entirely or mostly by artificial intelligence. Starting July 15, these tracks will also be disqualified from earning royalty payments. This policy specifically targets Tidal Upload, the service's program for independent musicians, and bars AI-generated music linked to "fraudulent activity," including tracks that imitate famous artists or aim to mislead audiences.

The policy statement emphasizes that "artists should have the freedom to create with AI tools, and listeners should have the autonomy to choose the type of content they consume." It adds, "Due to the problems associated with the influx of AI-generated content, we will hold AI-generated content to a higher standard of content integrity." Tidal acknowledged that while AI tools have played a role in music production for many years, they have recently become "more commonplace and advanced." Consequently, these labels are deemed necessary, and the platform intends to start with mandatory labels for fully AI-generated songs, later expanding to those substantially created with AI "as AI-detection methods become more reliable." This strategy differs from the approaches of Spotify and Apple Music, which place the onus of AI labeling on artists and distributors themselves. According to Billboard, Apple Music informed partners in a March memo that AI-generated music represented less than 1% of all weekly plays, and it has internal systems to identify AI-produced tracks. Industry analyst Sarah Jenkins commented on this development, noting that "Tidal's move could set a precedent for how streaming platforms balance innovation with artist protection, especially as AI tools become more accessible to independent creators." This is a particularly timely issue given that AI-generated music has surged in popularity, with some estimates suggesting it could account for up to 10% of all streaming content by 2025, raising concerns about dilution of authentic artistry and copyright infringement.

Robert Andersen, a principal designer at Tidal’s parent company Block who leads design for the streaming service, posted on X that Tidal receives "an overwhelming amount of AI-generated music from 3rd party distributors." "It has been clear for some time that we need to evolve our platform and standards to deal with this new type of submission to our catalog," he added, "so today we are announcing an AI-generated music policy designed to provide a great experience for our listeners, while protecting the authenticity and livelihoods of artists and rightholders." The decision to withhold royalties is arguably the most impactful part of the policy, given that Tidal has historically paid artists higher rates than rivals like Spotify. For context, Spotify’s AI policy states that it operates as "a platform for licensed music where royalties are paid based on listener engagement, and all music is treated equally, regardless of the tools used to make it." In contrast, Tidal acknowledges the ongoing debate over officially licensed work used in AI-generated music, noting that "this debate will continue as the technology advances and rightsholders and AI music platforms develop licensing models." The company stressed, "Tidal’s priority is ensuring royalties go to original works directly produced, written, and performed by people. We will therefore not knowingly attribute royalties to music we identify as wholly AI-generated." Tidal, founded in 2014 by rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z and acquired by Block in 2021 for $297 million, has long marketed itself as a premium service focused on high-fidelity audio and fair artist compensation, making this royalty stance a logical extension of its brand ethos. This move could also pressure other platforms to adopt similar policies, potentially reshaping how the music industry navigates the growing influence of AI in content creation.