YouTube Music Begins Rolling Out Generative AI Song Labels

YouTube Music has begun introducing labels for songs created primarily using generative artificial intelligence (AI), giving listeners information about how tracks were made directly on the player page.

Listeners can tap a label to open a menu with further details. The labels will also appear in the main YouTube app, but the company has not specified whether they will affect recommendations or royalty payments.

How tracks will be classified

YouTube will combine its own detection tools with disclosures from music partners to identify AI-generated tracks. Partners can declare generative AI use through Digital Data Exchange (DDEX) or comma-separated values (CSV) delivery templates, choosing from three categories:

• Fully Gen AI
• Partly Gen AI: AI-generated elements combined with human-performed vocals or instrumentation.
• No Gen AI: This category includes the use of pitch correction tools such as Auto-Tune.

Other platforms introduce AI disclosures

The rollout follows transparency measures across music streaming services. Apple Music is expected to introduce “Made With AI” labels later this year.

Spotify began testing AI disclosures in song credits in April. In August, it announced an “AI Persona” badge for artist profiles with AI-generated identities, whose music is excluded from editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default.

Deezer uses its own technology to label fully AI-generated music. Earlier this week, it announced a feature allowing users to remove that music from search results.

In June, TIDAL said it would label fully AI-generated music in its app and stop paying royalties on it.