AI-Generated Music: From Raunchy Tunes to Bizarre Holiday Hits
▼ Summary
– AI-generated music, including explicit and novelty tracks, is increasingly appearing on streaming platforms like Spotify, often blending in with human-made content.
– One creator, “JB” of BannedVinylCollection, produces AI-made songs with adult themes and earns modest revenue, primarily through Patreon and Bandcamp.
– Spotify users have reported encountering AI-generated songs unexpectedly, such as bizarre tracks about butts or Santa Claus using cocaine, mixed into their playlists.
– Deezer reports that 18% of daily uploads are flagged as AI-generated, but no major platform currently allows users to block AI content from recommendations.
– While platforms like Spotify and YouTube ban AI deepfakes of real artists, they lack universal rules requiring AI content disclosure or outright bans.
AI-generated music is rapidly infiltrating streaming platforms, producing everything from bizarre novelty tracks to eerily convincing genre imitations. What began as experimental tech has evolved into a flood of synthetic content, some humorous, some unsettling, that listeners often stumble upon without realizing its artificial origins.
One striking example involves a track titled “Make Love to My Shitter,” created by an artist called BannedVinylCollection. Podcast host Brace Belden encountered the song after streaming Lucinda Williams’ Sweet Old World on Spotify. At first, he assumed it was a vintage obscurity. “I thought it might’ve been some underground joke record from the ’80s or ’90s,” he admitted. Only later did he realize it was entirely AI-generated.
The anonymous creator behind BannedVinylCollection, known only as “JB,” confirmed using AI to craft their catalog of explicit, satirical songs. Tracks like “Grant Me Rectal Delight” and “Taste My Ass” fall into what might generously be called “butt-themed erotica.” While the artist earns modest royalties, around $200 monthly from Spotify, most revenue comes from Patreon and Bandcamp supporters. “Each song takes hours to perfect,” JB explained, defending the monetization of their unconventional work.
This phenomenon isn’t limited to raunchy parodies. Music industry analyst Tim Ingham recently documented his own dive into Spotify’s AI catalog, uncovering tracks like “I Caught Santa Claus Sniffing Cocaine,” a faux-’70s soul oddity. Scrolling further, he identified 13 seemingly AI-driven artists collectively amassing over 4.1 million monthly listeners. Some mimicked mainstream genres convincingly, while others leaned into absurdist humor.
Spotify hasn’t publicly addressed the surge, but other platforms are grappling with similar challenges. Deezer, a French streaming service, reports that its AI detection system flags 18% of daily uploads, roughly 600,000 tracks monthly. While Deezer removes some synthetic content, no major platform yet allows users to filter AI music from recommendations. “Streaming services shouldn’t permit this stuff at all,” argued Belden.
Current policies remain inconsistent. Spotify and YouTube ban AI deepfakes of real artists, and YouTube mandates labels for “realistic” synthetic content. However, Spotify lacks disclosure requirements for AI-generated material. The debate intensified after the viral rise of Velvet Sundown, a psychedelic rock “band” whose AI-generated music and artwork garnered 500,000 monthly listeners within weeks.
As synthetic music blurs the line between human and machine creativity, listeners and platforms alike face unanswered questions about authenticity, copyright, and the future of algorithmic discovery. For now, one thing’s certain: if your playlist suddenly serves up a country ballad about interstellar flatulence, you might want to check the credits.
(Source: Wired)
