With AI-generated tracks representing almost half of new music delivered to some streaming platforms, a new labelling system has been introduced by the global music community.
Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) CEO Annabelle Herd said the system was designed to give fans clearer information about the use of Generative AI in sound recordings.
Ms Herd said the initiative was announced by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) alongside the RIAA, A2IM, WIN, IMPALA, The Grammys, SAG-AFTRA and the Human Artistry Campaign.
“Australian music fans, like fans everywhere, deserve to know how the music they love has been made. This is a practical, proactive step by the global music community to give them that clarity.”
IFPI CEO Vikki Oakley said in April, the music streaming service Deezer reported that AI-generated tracks comprised 44 percent of all new music delivered to its platform while Apple Music has said that more than one-third of the tracks uploaded to its platform are “100 percent AI”.
Ms Oakley said simultaneously, more artists were exploring ways to use AI to support and enhance, but not replace, their ideation and creativity.
“These new labels will help listeners distinguish between wholly AI recordings and those where AI was used by human artists in limited ways.”
Ms Herd said the system introduced two track-level labels, with “AI-Generated” applied where generative AI produced the entirety or the primary creative elements of a recording, such as a lead vocal, a key instrumental performance, or an entirely prompt-generated track.
She said “AI-Assisted” was applied where a recording was created substantially by humans, who performed the lead vocal and primary instruments, with generative AI used for some expressive elements.
“Human artistry and authenticity are integral to what makes music so powerful. As artists find new ways to use these tools, and as fully AI-generated tracks arrive on streaming services in growing numbers, honest labelling helps listeners make informed choices and keeps human creativity at the centre of our industry.”
