A seismic shift is underway on Deezer, with AI-generated music reaching an unprecedented 50% of daily uploads – a staggering 90,000 tracks every day. This meteoric rise marks a tipping point where machine-made music outnumbers its human counterpart on the platform, a dramatic increase from just over a quarter in September 2025 and nearly half in April 2026.
Yet despite this tidal wave of AI content flooding the site, the statistics tell a different story: these tracks account for less than three per cent of total listening time. This chasm highlights the growing headache for streaming services – managing a deluge of music that largely fails to capture listener imagination. Deezer's CEO, Alexis Lanternier, has been at the forefront of tackling this issue, declaring war on fraud and payment dilution linked to AI music almost two years ago, with further steps being taken to safeguard artists' rights and focus on music that genuinely resonates with fans.
The industry is waking up to the implications of AI's rapid advancement in music production. Deezer is taking a hard stance against AI tracks, working tirelessly to remove and demonetise them. This strategy is in lockstep with major players like TIDAL, which has vowed not to pay royalties for music created entirely by artificial intelligence, while introducing clear labelling and user-friendly options to filter out AI content. The music streaming giant also pledged to rid itself of AI-generated songs that exploit an individual's likeness or deceive listeners.
Spotify is also taking a stand, having removed 75 million 'spammy tracks' and targeted impersonators, particularly in cases where AI-generated songs were uploaded to deceased musicians' profiles without consent. Apple Music has committed to informing users when they are listening to AI-created music – a vital step towards transparency and trust. These collective efforts underscore the growing concern within the industry about the ethical, financial, and creative implications of AI's relentless march forward.
The UK government is also taking note, following a high-profile campaign led by British icons like Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Dua Lipa, and Elton John. Their efforts led to a U-turn on plans that would have allowed AI firms to use copyrighted works without permission or payment – a significant victory for artists and songwriters who warned the original proposals would be 'deeply damaging' to the creative industries.