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Artificial Streaming, Not AI, Is the Immediate Threat to Music’s Integrity
By Kristin Robinson
Senior Writer
The recent discovery of AI-generated music and its rapid growth in popularity has sparked a heated debate about the role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of our industry. While I agree that AI has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of our business, it is essential to acknowledge the more pressing issue: artificial streaming.
In the past month, Reddit detectives have brought to light the alarming phenomenon of bots, clickfarms, and manipulated playlists siphoning royalties from legitimate creators and funneling them towards fraudulent artists. It’s estimated that 5-10% of all streams are inauthentic. This translates to billions of listens, and subsequently, real money being redirected from rightful creators to scammers.
The creation of a song, regardless of whether it’s AI-generated or produced by a rock band, does not guarantee listenership. With hundreds of thousands of new tracks released daily, genuine engagement is what drives success in the market. Artificial streaming has led to a marketplace where a song can become popular solely because it was manipulated into playlists and charts.
To combat this issue, companies across the ecosystem are investing heavily in fraud detection tools and technologies. Streaming platforms have started to penalize fraudulent tracks, dissuading bad actors from engaging in such practices. Furthermore, collaborations between artists, labels, distributors, and anti-fraud solutions are underway to raise awareness about suspicious activities.
In conclusion, it is crucial for our industry to unite against the threat of artificial streaming, not AI. The consequences of inaction will be devastating, as fraudulent activity drains revenue from rightful creators.
Source: www.billboard.com
