AI-driven changes continue to ripple across the music business, from new content labeling on a DJ download store to fresh advertising tools on Snapchat and sharp criticism from prominent artists.
Platform updates
Traxsource, the download store specializing in house music for DJs, will now classify tracks as “Human-Made” or “AI-Assisted.” Fully AI-generated music will be flagged for removal. Co-founder and CTO Marc Pomeroy said the system aims to give users choice while keeping creative options open for musicians.
“We envision a future where shopping for music is like shopping for food today, conventional products right next to certified organic, with the choice left to the consumer.”
Mngrs·ai, an artist management platform, has added Cortez Bryant as an investor and strategic advisor. Bryant, whose management roster has included Drake, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj, stated:
“Mngrs·ai can make the kind of structured guidance and career support that artists need accessible to millions of people who would otherwise never have access to it.”
Advertising and marketing tools
Snapchat is deploying several AI-powered features for advertisers. A new AI assistant detects ad errors and suggests performance improvements. Dynamic Product Ads will use AI to serve recommendations with what the platform calls increased relevancy. A suite of in-app upscaling and image-to-video generation tools is also rolling out, along with an AI-driven Snap Creator Network that helps brands find creator partners by describing audience, tone, category or campaign goals. (Separately, Snap has launched augmented reality glasses priced above $2,000.)
Brands are increasingly turning to AI-generated social media personalities to promote products, drawn by lower costs compared to human creators, according to Clarissa Mansbridge, who creates such AI influencers. Some brands are requiring creators to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to conceal that their content is AI-generated.
Google is now displaying AI-powered answers at the top of search results, and analytics users are seeing referral traffic from AI platforms like ChatGPT. Google’s ad chief Nick Fox said:
“AI is giving marketers superpowers.”
He pointed to smarter ads, agentic shopping experiences that let consumers use natural language to find products, and better decision-making help for queries like “which product should I pick?”
Artist reactions
SZA took to Instagram to accuse AI platforms such as Suno of training on music from “the best and brightest black minds of writers and producers.” She warned fellow artists:
“DO NOT TRAIN AI WITH YOUR GENIUS.”
Her comments echo producer-songwriter Jack Antonoff, who recently described people who make music with AI as “godless whores.”
Patreon CEO and musician Jack Conte offered a dual perspective. He cautioned against outright boycotts:
“Boycotting AI is like boycotting the internet. That’s not a good strategy.”
At the same time, he called for regulation and legal action, arguing:
“What’s essentially happened is these models have Borg’d the entirety of the free creative web from all these creative people, without paying them, without letting them opt out, and without even giving them credit.”
Rapper Fenix Flexin is facing a different AI-related challenge. His solo track “Rubberz” has gained traction on TikTok, blending 80s synthpop, hip-hop and a sound reminiscent of The Smiths. The song’s distinct style has led to persistent online accusations that it was created with AI, which he denies.
