Music industry proposes new system to tag AI-generated songs: “Fans want to know whether and how generative AI has been used in the music they listen to”

As AI-generated music continues to flood streaming platforms, some of the music industry’s biggest organisations are launching a new labelling system aimed at giving listeners a clearer picture of how the songs they hear were made.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) have joined forces with several other organisations – including the Grammys, A2IM, WIN, IMPALA, SAG-AFTRA and the Human Artistry Campaign – to introduce a voluntary standard for tagging music created using generative AI.

The proposed system features two labels: “AI-Generated” for tracks created entirely from AI prompts or featuring AI-generated lead vocals or “key” instrumental parts, and “AI-Assisted” for songs where AI played a supporting role but the core performance still comes from human musicians.

The labels are said to be conceived with “broad, global adoption” in mind, across digital music services and other partners.

“Fans want to know whether and how generative AI has been used in the music to which they listen,” say IFPI CEO Vikki Oakley and RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier in a joint statement. “Given how important human artistry and authenticity is to music lovers all over the world, these labels will provide an immediately understandable and easily scalable approach to transparency.”

“For artists and fans around the world, true connections and trust are everything,” says Noemí Planas, CEO of Worldwide Independent Network. “Clear labeling of AI-generated content is central to this: it gives fans the transparency they deserve and supports the human-centered, safety-first approach that the global independent community has championed through the WIN Principles for Generative AI. Implementing the shared standards that the music industry is collectively developing is key to navigating AI responsibly and keeping creativity at the heart of it.”

The announcement comes as AI-generated music becomes an increasingly pressing issue for streaming platforms. French service Deezer recently revealed that AI-generated tracks now account for more than 44% of all daily uploads, while Apple Music said that more than one-third of the tracks uploaded to its platform are “100% AI”.

Labelling AI music has emerged as one of the industry’s preferred responses. Last year, Deezer began automatically tagging fully AI-generated tracks detected on its platform, while filtering them out of royalty payments and editorial playlists. The company has also launched a free online AI music detector that lets anyone check whether tracks in their own playlists – even on rival streaming services – were created using AI.

Meanwhile, Tidal announced last month that music it identifies as “wholly AI-generated” will no longer earn royalties or be eligible for direct-to-fan sales, though they will remain on the platform.

Learn more at RIAA.