Various music industry groups propose adding labels to AI-generated music
The Recording Industry Association of America, GRAMMYs, and other organizations declare a “unified approach” to track labeling.
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Several music industry groups have suggested introducing a new program to label music as either entirely created or assisted by AI technology. In a joint statement, groups including the RIAA, Recording Academy (NARAS), IFPI, and SAG-AFTRA announced “a unified approach to voluntary track labeling to give fans clearer information about the use of generative AI (GenAI) in sound recordings. “Given how important human artistry and authenticity is to music lovers all over the world, these labels will provide an immediately understandable and easily scalable approach to transparency.”
The proposal is that digital markers (similar to those that denote explicit lyrics on streaming services) would be added to songs created entirely (“AI-generated”) or using the assistance of (“AI-assisted”) AI. A black block with “AI” in capital letters would identify songs that have used generative AI for the entirety or primary portion of the recording. A white block with “ai” in lower case would be used for AI-assisted songs that are “created substantially by humans and express human creativity” but use generative AI for “some expressive elements.”
The move comes after music streaming service Deezer reported in April that 44% of all new music delivered to its platform was AI-generated, and nearly 75,000 AI-generated tracks were uploaded every day. A few days later, Apple Music told Billboard that over a third of tracks uploaded to the service were “100% AI.”
Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. described the initiative as “a clear way to communicate how and when” AI was being used in music, and ensuring that “artistic intent remain[s] at the center of every song.” In June, the Recording Academy made a series of changes to the Grammy Awards, one of which was stipulating that “a work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category.” Despite this, Mason clarified that “music that contains AI-created elements” was eligible for nomination, as long as the human contribution was more than de minimis.
Despite the statement saying that the labels would be available for use “in the near future,” it isn’t yet clear when or if streaming services will apply them to tracks. The statement also clarified that the proposed system did not cover the use of generative AI in lyrics, composition, music videos or cover art “at this point.”
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