The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) are spearheading a push for standardized labels that would identify AI-generated and AI-assisted music on streaming services, aiming to bring greater transparency to listeners as synthetic audio proliferates.
Proposed Label Types
Under the proposal, two labels would be introduced. The first, “AI-generated,” would mark recordings created entirely by AI, including tracks produced from text prompts or those with AI-generated lead vocals or principal instrumental performances. The second, “AI-assisted,” would apply to recordings made primarily by humans but incorporating AI during parts of the creative process.
The labels would appear alongside tracks in a manner similar to existing explicit-content warnings. Disclosures would be voluntary, relying on artists, record labels and distributors to provide the information. The framework would initially cover only the production of audio recordings, not AI use in songwriting, lyrics, artwork or music videos.
Industry Support and Listener Attitudes
The initiative is backed by the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA, the Human Artistry Campaign and the American Association of Independent Music. A recent survey by Deezer and Ipsos found that 97% of respondents could not distinguish between AI-generated and human-created songs, while 80% supported clear labelling of fully AI-generated music.
RIAA chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier said artists should retain the freedom to incorporate AI into their work while ensuring audiences understand how recordings were created.
“But flexibility in the creative process also means that artists who want to use AI in the creative process should be able to do so. Transparency is just the best way to have it both ways.”
The Digital Media Association (DiMA), whose members include Spotify and Apple, said it supports improving the flow of AI-related information throughout the music supply chain, though it has not confirmed whether its members will adopt the proposed labels.
“That information flows best when it travels the entire path from creator to fan, and our members rely on industry partners to make that possible,” DiMA president and CEO Graham Davies said.
Streaming Platforms’ AI Measures
Several services have already introduced measures to identify AI-generated music:
- Deezer began detecting and labelling AI-generated tracks at platform level in 2025. The company receives nearly 75,000 fully AI-generated tracks each day, accounting for more than 44% of new uploads. Up to 85% of streams involving fully AI-generated music in 2025 were fraudulent and are excluded from royalty calculations.
- Spotify has adopted an industry standard for AI disclosures in music credits and has been testing AI indicators within song credits where artists disclose AI use through their labels or distributors. The platform has also introduced verification rules that exclude profiles primarily representing AI-generated artists.
- TIDAL announced in June that it would label fully AI-generated recordings and prevent them from earning royalties.
- Qobuz introduced an AI detection system earlier this year to identify AI-generated content and remove recordings found to impersonate artists or manipulate streaming activity.
- Apple Music launched its own disclosure system in March, relying on labels and distributors to declare AI-generated recordings rather than detecting them independently.
If adopted broadly, the proposed labelling framework would create a common method for identifying AI-generated and AI-assisted music across streaming services.
