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Spotify Publishes AI-Generated Songs Under Dead Artists’ Names Without Permission
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Spotify is being criticised for uploading AI-generated music onto artist profiles of deceased musicians without any authorization from estates or record labels.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Blaze Foley’s official page featured an AI song falsely attributed to him.
- Lost Art Records called the song “AI schlock” and unauthentic.
- Spotify removed the song after it violated their Deceptive Content policy.
404Media notes that in one example is Blaze Foley, as the deceased country singer-songwriter who met his death in 1989. The song “Together” appeared on the official Spotify page of Blaze Foley, yet used a generic male vocalist who played piano and guitar.
The music did not match any of Foley’s known musical compositions, according to fans. The page even included an AI-generated image of a man vaguely resembling a singer, but not Foley, as reported by 404Media.
“I can clearly tell you that this song is not Blaze, not anywhere near Blaze’s style, at all,” said Craig McDonald, head of Lost Art Records, which manages Foley’s catalog, as reported by 404Media. “It’s kind of an AI schlock bot, if you will. It has nothing to do with the Blaze you know, that whole posting has the authenticity of an algorithm,” he added.
McDonald noted, “They could fix this problem. One of their talented software engineers could stop this fraudulent practice in its tracks, if they had the will to do so.”
The song was removed by Spotify since it violated their Deceptive Content policy, as reported by 404Media. The music track circulated through SoundOn, which operates under TikTok ownership to distribute content to various streaming platforms. 404Media reports that TikTok hasn’t commented.
Meanwhile, AI-generated music is making waves across the platform. A fully AI-generated band named Velvet Sundown recently made it onto Spotify’s charts with two albums before listeners uncovered that both the music, and band members, were all AI generated. As a result, experts are calling for clear labeling as AI music gets harder to detect.
Image by DCL “650”, from Unsplash
Netflix Quietly Tests Runway AI
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The streaming giant Netflix has started testing AI video tools from Runway AI, based in New York, which indicates a potential shift in the way major studios will produce content..
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Netflix is testing AI video tools from New York-based startup Runway AI.
- Disney tested Runway but decided not to use it for now.
- Runway’s tools generate video clips and enable advanced animation and motion capture.
Bloomberg , which first reported the story, cited a source familiar with the matter who said, “Netflix is currently using the New York-based startup’s tools in content production.” Netflix declined to comment, and so did Runway.
Disney has also tested the software but said it “has no plans to integrate Runway’s software into its content production pipeline at this time,” as reported by Bloomberg.
The company gained popularity after releasing its first AI video tools in 2023, which generated short video clips from text inputs, as noted by Bloomberg. The company developed its technology to enable more sophisticated applications, including animation and special effects.
Last week, Runway introduced Act-Two as its new motion-capture model, which enables users to transfer real human movements to animated characters.
Bloomberg reports that Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed in a Thursday earnings call that the company is using AI for special effects. He cited a collapsing building scene in the upcoming Argentinian series El Eternaut , noting the shot was made “more quickly and cheaply” with AI than traditional tools. However, he did not say whether Runway was involved in that particular scene, and Bloomberg’s sources say it was not.
Bloomberg says that Runway achieved a $3 billion valuation while receiving $545 million in funding, which placed it ahead of numerous other AI startups. Through its partnership with Lionsgate, the company obtained access to studio content for model training, which solidified its position in AI-driven media production.
Still, the entertainment industry is closely monitoring AI developments, as many film and TV professionals worry about the technology’s threat to their jobs, especially with studios exploring lower-cost alternatives to human labor.
