Spotify tests tool to block AI music impersonating artists
▼ Summary
– Spotify is beta testing an “Artist Profile Protection” feature that lets artists review and approve releases before they appear on their official profile.
– This tool addresses a problem worsened by AI-generated tracks, where music incorrectly lands on the wrong artist pages due to metadata errors or impersonation.
– Approved releases are the only ones that will appear on an artist’s profile, count toward their statistics, and be included in user recommendations.
– The feature is targeted at artists who have faced repeated incorrect releases, have a common name, or simply want more control over their profile.
– Artists in the beta can enable the feature in their settings and will receive email notifications to approve or decline incoming music attributed to them.
As a growing wave of AI-generated music complicates digital platforms, Spotify is introducing a beta feature designed to give creators direct authority over their profiles. This new Artist Profile Protection tool enables musicians to review and approve any release before it appears under their name on the service, directly addressing concerns about misattributed tracks and AI impersonations.
The company highlighted the escalating issue in a recent announcement. “Music has been landing on the wrong artist pages across streaming services, and the rise of easy-to-produce AI tracks has made the problem worse,” Spotify stated. “Protecting artist identity is a top priority for 2026, and today we’re announcing a first-of-its-kind solution to a problem that’s affected streaming for years.”
Participants in the beta program can now vet submissions sent to Spotify under their artist name. Only approved releases will be published to their official profile, count toward their streaming statistics, or be included in algorithmic playlists like Release Radar. This move follows a separate industry action last week, where Sony Music reported requesting the takedown of over 135,000 AI-generated songs falsely attributed to its roster of artists.
Spotify acknowledges that while open distribution platforms have democratized music publishing for independents, they also introduce vulnerabilities. Tracks can be incorrectly linked to an artist due to metadata errors, name confusion between different performers, or deliberate attempts to capitalize on another artist’s reputation. These incidents can distort an artist’s catalog, skew their performance data, and disrupt how listeners discover their genuine work.
“We know how frustrating this can be for both artists and fans,” the platform explained. “One of the top requests we’ve heard is that artists want more visibility before music appears under their name.” The feature is therefore targeted toward musicians who have faced repeated misattributions, who share a common name with other artists, or who simply desire greater profile control.
Eligible artists will find the option within their Spotify for Artists settings on desktop and mobile web. Once activated, Artist Profile Protection triggers an email alert whenever new music is delivered to Spotify associated with their identity. The artist can then log in to explicitly approve or decline the release, ensuring only their authentic work reaches their audience.
(Source: TechCrunch)
