Tidal just drew a line in the sand on AI music: 100% AI-generated tracks won't earn royalties on the music streaming platform

Tidal has published a new policy on AI-generated music content
In addition to labeling 100% AI tracks, it also targets “substantially generated” material.
Tidal “will not tolerate AI-generated music that impersonates an artist or group”

Are you tired of AI in your music or tracking your delicate hearing? perceive be generated by AI, in recommended playlists? You are not alone.

In a welcome move for recording artists, their parents, their loved ones, and simply lovers of original musical works with human voices, high-resolution music streaming giant Tidal has released a comprehensive AI policy with the tagline “Promoting equity and economic empowerment in the era of AI-generated music.”

The release of the policy follows extensive progress in this area by Deezer, with its free AI detection tool that works on any streaming platform, Bandcamp’s strong and concise anti-AI stance established in January of this year, Apple’s ‘Transparency Labels’ published in March (but somewhat shaky) that rely on labels and distributors to label AI content on Apple Music, and Spotify’s… er, Verified by Spotify badge, which certifies that an artist It’s human, but it doesn’t help. Filter out junk from any generated playlists.

The trend is changing in text-based AI music creation

Interestingly, Tidal is apparently looking to go even further than Deezer here. While the rival platform’s anti-AI filter currently only works on 100% AI tracks, Tidal’s policy states: “As AI detection methods become more reliable, we will expand this label to content that is substantially AI-generated.” Bold.

Tidal’s document adds: “But the responsibility for identifying and labeling AI-generated content should not fall on Tidal alone. We expect, and will begin to require, content distributors to identify AI-generated content before it reaches our platform.”

So a double attack on AI? It’s a move that can only be seen as a victory for musicians and bands. That said, it remains to be seen how effective Tidal’s specific anti-AI software will be and also who exactly is helping the company achieve its admirable goals.

I asked Tidal if it had perhaps implemented Deezer’s anti-AI tool (which the company made available to its rivals in January and subsequently offered to anyone who wanted to check their playlists for AI tracks regardless of the streaming service) and was told: “We are currently working with a third-party partner to manage the detection.”

So it looks like Tidal is keeping its cards close to its chest regarding how it’s going to comply with the policy. Either way, it’s a positive step in the fight to keep music and musicians alive.