A broad coalition of music industry organizations has introduced a voluntary labeling framework to tell listeners when generative artificial intelligence has been used in sound recordings, creating two distinct labels: AI-Generated and AI-Assisted.
Announced on July 10, 2026, the initiative is backed by the IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), A2IM (American Association of Independent Music), WIN (Worldwide Independent Network), IMPALA (Independent Music Companies Association), the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), and the Human Artistry Campaign.
The move comes as AI-generated content floods streaming platforms. In April, Deezer reported that AI-generated tracks made up 44% of all new music delivered to its service. Apple Music has said that more than one-third of tracks uploaded to its platform are “100% AI.”
Two-Tier Label System
The voluntary labels are designed for broad adoption across digital music services, distributors, and aggregators, and are supported by metadata and visual icons. They distinguish between recordings created entirely or primarily by generative AI and those where AI was used as a tool by human artists in limited ways.
The high-level guideline for the AI-Generated label states: “Generative AI was used to generate the entirety or the primary portion of the creative elements of the recording.”
Industry Leaders Voice Support
“Fans want to know whether and how generative AI has been used in the music to which they listen. 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. We acknowledge the many ways AI is being used creatively, so we expect to offer fans additional information as adoption of generative AI labelling grows and technology evolves.”
, Vikki Oakley, IFPI CEO, and Mitch Glazier, RIAA Chairman & CEO, in a joint statement
“The independent community knows the magic of music lives in an authentic connection between artists and fans. Technology will keep offering new ways to make and enjoy music, but that bond still runs on trust. As questions of integrity, authenticity, and provenance grow, that trust depends on people knowing what’s real. That’s why A2IM supports the whole industry coming together behind a clear, shared standard for labelling AI.”
, Ian Harrison, CEO of A2IM
“For artists and fans around the world, true connections and trust are everything. Clear labeling of AI-generated content is central to this: it gives fans the transparency they deserve and supports the human-centered, safety-first approach that the global independent community has championed through the WIN Principles for Generative AI. Implementing the shared standards that the music industry is collectively developing is key to navigating AI responsibly and keeping creativity at the heart of it.”
, Noemí Planas, CEO of WIN
“As set out in IMPALA’s Digital Music Plan, establishing an industry wide framework with standard definitions regarding AI generated material and labelling is crucial and urgent for the independent sector. We welcome this as an important initial step towards a provenance system that the whole industry can embrace with pride as a quality mark. More than a labelling exercise, it is a foundational opportunity for the whole sector.”
, Helen Smith, Executive Chair of IMPALA
“As AI continues to be integrated into the creative process, artists and fans alike deserve a clear way to communicate how and when it’s being used. This initiative ensures that creativity, authorship, and artistic intent remain at the center of every song. Giving artists the ability to tell that story strengthens trust and supports a more sustainable future for music.”
, Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy
“Transparency is essential, but it is only the beginning. Fans deserve to know when the music they hear is AI-generated or AI-assisted, and performers deserve a marketplace that recognizes, values, and protects human creativity. This framework is an important step toward giving listeners clear information. SAG-AFTRA continues to reinforce the principle that AI should not be used to replace, imitate, or exploit artists without consent and fair compensation.”
, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator
“Transparency is a core Human Artistry principle, and this proposal delivers on that promise. Honesty has always been the best policy, and fans deserve to know if and how AI has been used in recordings they hear. The Human Artistry Campaign appreciates the collaboration, work and commitment to transparency made by organizations who have pulled together this landmark proposal. We look forward to broad adoption of this pro-human, pro-artist approach across the music ecosystem.”
, Dr. Moiya McTier, Human Artistry Campaign Senior Advisor
