Spotify removes 75M spam tracks, introduces AI disclosure requirements

Spotify has announced new policies to combat “AI slop” in music streaming, introducing industry-standard AI disclosure requirements, stronger impersonation protections, and automated spam detection. The move comes as the platform removed over 75 million spammy tracks in the past year, with the company warning that harmful AI content “degrades the user experience for listeners and often attempts to divert royalties to bad actors.”

What you should know: Spotify is implementing three major changes to address AI misuse while maintaining support for legitimate AI-assisted music creation.

• The platform will use DDEX (Digital Data Exchange), an industry system for identifying and labeling AI music in credits, requiring labels and distributors to disclose how AI was used in music production, including vocals, instrumentation, or post-production work.
• Enhanced impersonation policies will provide artists stronger protections against AI voice clones and fraudulent uploads to their profiles.
• A new music spam filter will identify mass uploads, duplicates, SEO manipulation, and artificially short tracks designed to game the system.

The big picture: Spotify acknowledges the dual nature of AI in music, stating that “at its best, AI is unlocking incredible new ways for artists to create music and for listeners to discover it,” while warning against content farms using AI to “confuse or deceive listeners.”

How the disclosure system works: The DDEX integration will make AI usage transparent to listeners through in-app credits.

• Music partners must submit detailed explanations of AI involvement in tracks before distribution.
• Information about AI-generated vocals, instrumentation, or production techniques will be displayed directly in the Spotify app.
• The system was developed in partnership with multiple industry stakeholders to establish standardized practices.

Why this matters: The policies position Spotify as taking a proactive stance against AI abuse while the music industry grapples with authenticity concerns.

• The platform emphasizes that “all music is treated equally, regardless of the tools used to make it,” focusing on combating misuse rather than banning AI entirely.
• Spotify continues investing in AI features like its AI DJ while working to “protect artist identity” and provide “more transparency” to listeners.

What they’re saying: Spotify frames the challenge as protecting legitimate creativity from exploitation.

• “The future of the music industry is being written, and we believe that aggressively protecting against the worst parts of Gen AI is essential to enabling its potential for artists and producers,” the company stated.
• The platform clarified its position: “We support artists’ freedom to use AI creatively while actively combating its misuse by content farms and bad actors.”

Implementation timeline: The spam detection system will roll out gradually to avoid incorrectly flagging legitimate accounts, while the DDEX disclosure requirements appear to be launching immediately for new submissions.