Spotify‘s planned artificial intelligence (AI) remix tool is drawing criticism from users ahead of its expected launch early next year. The feature would let listeners alter songs within Spotify, while artists would decide individually whether to participate.
Listeners could change a slow ballad into a dance track or replace its vocalist with a different artist. Remixes would remain within Spotify and could not be released elsewhere by users. Spotify has deals with Universal Music Group, Merlin, Believe and Kobalt, but those agreements do not require individual artists to opt in.
Online critics have questioned whether musicians would be compensated fairly and whether listeners want the feature. Some users have discussed leaving Spotify for Tidal or Qobuz, or buying music through Bandcamp. One X user, who said they had subscribed to Spotify since 2017, wrote: “If Spotify ends up going through with this, then I’ll be cancelling my subscription.”
Questions remain about how the feature would handle contributions and rights. The Future of Music Coalition asked, “But will backing musicians get paid for this new use?” Abby North of North Music Group also raised questions about how generated works would be named, how shares would be assigned and how publishers would learn of new derivative works.
