Spotify Tests Tool to Block Fake AI Songs From Artist Pages

Musicians are finally getting a tool to fight back against the flood of AI-generated songs appearing under their names without permission.

Spotify announced it's testing "Artist Profile Protection," a first-of-its-kind feature that lets artists review and approve releases before they go live on their profiles. If a song doesn't get the green light, it won't show up on their page, count toward their stats, or appear in fan recommendations.

The problem has gotten worse as AI makes it easier than ever to create music that mimics real artists. Tracks end up on the wrong profiles because of simple metadata errors, confusion between artists with similar names, or people deliberately trying to piggyback on someone else's fame and fanbase.

For artists, the consequences go beyond annoyance. Wrong tracks mess with their catalog, skew their streaming numbers, and affect how fans discover their real music through features like Release Radar.

The timing matters. Just last week, Sony Music revealed it requested the removal of more than 135,000 AI-generated songs impersonating its artists across streaming services.

Artists in the beta program can turn on the protection feature through their Spotify for Artists dashboard on desktop or mobile. Once activated, they'll get an email whenever new music arrives with their name attached, giving them the chance to accept or reject it before it goes public.

The Ripple Effect

Spotify acknowledges that open distribution has been a game-changer for independent musicians who don't need a record label anymore. But that same openness created vulnerabilities that bad actors have learned to exploit.

The feature isn't meant for everyone. Spotify designed it for artists who keep finding incorrect releases on their pages, have common names that cause mix-ups, or simply want more control over their online presence.

By putting approval power directly in artists' hands, Spotify is addressing one of the most requested features from musicians over the past year: visibility and control before music appears under their name. The move signals that streaming platforms are starting to take artist identity protection seriously as AI-generated content continues to multiply.

This shift could set a precedent for how other streaming services handle the growing challenge of AI music, protecting both artists and the fans who want to support real creators.