Spotify pilots new tool to tackle AI deepfakes and misattributed music

The company confirmed it is testing an opt-in tool, known as Artist Profile Protection, which allows artists to review and approve eligible releases before they appear on their profiles. The feature is currently in limited beta.

Spotify said the move comes as the growth of AI-generated music has increased cases of misattribution across streaming services. “The rise of easy-to-produce AI tracks has made the problem worse,” the company noted, adding that protecting artist identity is a priority for 2026.

The feature is designed to address issues ranging from metadata errors to deliberate attempts by “bad actors” to attach unauthorised music to artists’ accounts. Spotify described the tool as a “first-of-its-kind” solution that gives artists greater control over what is published under their names.

Artists who opt in will receive notifications when new releases are delivered to their profiles. They can approve or reject the content before it goes live. If no action is taken, the release will be blocked from appearing on their profile, although it may still be available on other platforms.

Spotify said: “This new feature builds on our reporting tools already in place, giving you proactive review and reactive reporting, so you have the chance to act both before and after a release connects to your profile.”

The issue of misattributed and AI-generated music has affected a wide range of artists. In recent cases, fake releases imitating projects by Tyler, the Creator appeared online ahead of official launches, while unauthorised tracks were also uploaded to the profiles of artists such as Father John Misty and Jeff Tweedy.

Spotify said misuse of artist profiles can affect catalogue data, streaming statistics and recommendation systems, including Release Radar playlists. The company added that stronger controls over incoming releases had been among the most requested features by artists over the past year.

To support legitimate releases, Spotify will assign artists a unique identification code that can be shared with trusted distributors for automatic approval. The company said the system is particularly suited to artists who have experienced repeated misattribution or share common names.

However, Spotify acknowledged that the feature may not be necessary for all users and could delay releases if artists fail to respond in time.

The pilot comes amid broader industry concerns over AI-generated content. Sony Music Entertainment recently requested the removal of more than 135 000 tracks it claims were created using generative AI to impersonate artists.

Spotify said the feature will continue to be developed during the beta phase, with plans to expand access to more artists in future.