This week, we learned that AI music had surpassed 50 per cent of all uploads to the streaming platform Deezer, which means that more of the music being added to the platform was made by AI than by human beings.
In June, according to the streaming service, an average of 90,000 AI-generated tracks were uploaded every single day.
Deezer has already made efforts to crack down on fraudulent streams via its AI detection tool, but with such a vast quantity of music arriving on the platform, the company has gone one step further, pledging to “take down generative-AI tracks used to generate fraudulent streams, as well as those that haven’t been streamed for 6 months or more”.
Streaming fraud, also known as artificial streaming or streaming manipulation, refers to using bots to falsely inflate the number of streams a song receives. The phenomenon itself is nothing new, but fraudsters’ methods have changed with the rise of AI.
In the early days of streaming, bots were often used to play tracks repeatedly, garnering royalties by racking up astronomical listening numbers. As platforms caught on to the tactic, they began disabling accounts that saw sudden, unexplained jumps in listeners.
Recently, however, streaming services have seen AI being used to mass produce music for release under multiple artist accounts, each of which can receive a smaller amount of streams, thereby avoiding fraud detection methods.
Even the most evangelical of AI enthusiasts will be able to imagine the impact this has on musicians. Streaming royalties are not an infinite resource, and as a growing percentage of revenue is allocated to AI-generated music, a smaller portion can be paid to real musicians who have already suffered the financial losses associated with the rise of streaming.
With this in mind, streaming services have started taking action.
Tidal, for instance, recently added an 'allow AI content' switch, which is accessible through the platform’s settings page. When switched off, Tidal automatically greys out and skips songs tagged as AI-generated.
If you are using Deezer, the company’s AI detection tool allows you to scan your playlists for AI-generated content. The tool can be used across other streaming services, too, but to see which specific albums are the culprits, you’ll need to transfer your playlists and library to the platform.
AI-generated songs are also automatically removed from Deezer's algorithmic recommendations and editorial playlists. When stream manipulation is detected, the service excludes the involved streams from royalty payments.
Earlier this year, French streaming platform Qobuz also published an AI charter, pledging to remove AI-generated content upon detection.
Spotify claimed it had taken down 75 million AI tracks in 2025, but, notably, the platform doesn’t yet use automated detection to highlight AI music, opting instead for a voluntary tagging model that is reliant on creators' honesty. Apple Music employs a similar system.
According to Alexis Lanternier, CEO of Deezer: “We have reached a pivotal moment, but we have the technology to keep track of the development, and an ambition to do what’s right. If the industry can align and come together to create shared standards, we can build a healthy and sustainable music ecosystem, where great music wins.”
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