Music streaming service TIDAL is the latest to take aim at AI-generated music with its introduction a new policy which will prevent fully AI-generated music from monetizing its platform. In addition, TIDAL will use automated tools to remove AI-generated music that attempts to impersonate an artist or group, the company said.
“We’re committed to protecting and rewarding organic creativity to avoid compromising an artist’s ability to connect with TIDAL subscribers and build their fan base. Many have told us they don’t want to be exposed to — or asked to listen to — music created entirely by AI,” he wrote Tony GervinoTIDAL EVP and Editor-in-Chief, in communication.
He clarified that TIDAL’s new policy was not intended to “stump technological progress,” but rather focuses on protecting and rewarding “organic creativity” from artists.
With the changes, fully AI-generated music on TIDAL will be recognized and labeled as such, allowing listeners to see an “AI” badge next to any track deemed to be 100% AI. These songs will not be able to monetize, collect royalties and will not be eligible for direct-to-fan sales, the company noted.
TIDAL’s policy is in line with others in the music streaming space, where services like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Qobuz have developed their own policies to deal with the growing number of AI-generated tracks that meet their services. Spotify last year revamped its policies on flagging music with AI and better spam filtering, while acknowledging that AI tools will be used in the music-making process to varying degrees. Apple Music also took the tagging approach.
Deezer, which said 44% of new music uploaded to its platform every day comes from artificial intelligence, has taken a harder line. Removes active AI chunks from sentences and excludes them from syndication playlists. It also offers its competitor AI detection technology and provides a consumer-facing tool that lets you see if AI music has entered your own playlists on competing services.
TIDAL’s policy could be an interesting test to see if monetization could be the thing to slow the flood of AI music, which many listeners don’t care about.
“No matter what you read elsewhere, an AI takeover of the music industry (and your recommendations) is not inevitable if we take even greater steps now to monitor and control it,” Gervino noted.
The company said the new policy is a “living document,” meaning it’s open to change as the space evolves. It enters into force on 15 July 2026.
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