Spotify to label AI-generated artist profiles and restrict their reach
The streaming giant announces proactive identification of photorealistic AI identities, aiming to distinguish authentic human artists from synthetic profiles amid growing industry scrutiny.
Spotify has announced a new policy requiring the labelling of artist profiles that represent artificial intelligence-generated identities. Starting in mid-September, users will see “AI Persona” badges appear on profiles where the artist’s name and imagery suggest a photorealistic synthetic identity rather than a real person. The move is designed to provide transparency and help listeners differentiate between human creators and AI-generated entities.
Under the new rules, music from profiles labelled as AI Personas will be excluded from editorial, algorithmic, and personalised recommendations by default. The only exception is for users who have explicitly followed the specific AI Persona, which serves as a clear signal of user intent. This restriction aims to prevent synthetic identities from gaining organic traction on the platform without direct audience engagement.
Spotify stated it will not rely solely on self-disclosure to identify these profiles. Instead, the company will proactively review artist profiles that have met pre-defined audience thresholds to identify those appearing to represent photorealistic AI identities. This approach prioritises profiles with significant listener bases, ensuring that the most visible synthetic accounts are identified first.
The policy also clarifies that the badge applies to the artist’s public identity, not the method of music production. Information regarding how a track was created will remain accessible through existing features such as AI Credits and SongDNA. This distinction allows Spotify to manage the presentation of AI-generated personas while continuing to support legitimate AI-assisted creative tools and the forthcoming AI remixes permitted under recent licensing deals with Universal Music Group and Merlin.
Artists will be able to self-disclose as AI Personas via Spotify for Artists starting on 11 August 2026. Those who believe a label has been incorrectly applied can appeal the decision. Additionally, Spotify plans to roll out a user reporting tool in the coming months, allowing listeners to flag profiles that appear to be AI Personas but have not yet been labelled.
