Sony Music Discovers 135,000 AI-Generated Deepfake Tracks Impersonating Artists

Thu Mar 19 2026 14:26:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In response to the rising problem of deepfakes in the music industry, Sony Music has taken action against over 135,000 fraudulent songs impersonating its artists on streaming platforms. This includes major names such as Beyoncé and Harry Styles.

Sony Music has requested the removal of more than 135,000 fraudulent songs created using generative AI that impersonate artists like Beyoncé and Harry Styles. The company claims this trend poses significant risks to the reputation and commercial interests of legitimate artists, particularly during promotional campaigns. Meanwhile, the surge in deepfakes coincides with the broader growth of recorded music revenues globally.

Sony Music has taken action against a significant rise in AI-generated deepfake tracks impersonating its artists, requesting the removal of over 135,000 songs from streaming services.

The fraudulent music has been created using generative AI technologies and has specifically targeted major artists, including Beyoncé and Harry Styles. Sony states that these counterfeit songs not only harm its recording artists financially but also threaten the integrity of artists’ promotional campaigns.

In the worst cases, [the deepfakes] potentially damage a release campaign or tarnish the reputation of an artist, commented Dennis Kooker, president of Sony’s global digital business.

The company reports that the number of fraudulent tracks generated through these means is on the rise as access to artificial intelligence technologies becomes more widespread and affordable. Sony believes that the 135,000 tracks identified represent only a fraction of what has made its way onto streaming platforms.

Since last March alone, the company has uncovered approximately 60,000 songs falsely claiming to feature artists from its lineup. Other affected artists include Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, and Mark Ronson.

Kooker elaborated, stating, The issue with deepfakes is that they exploit the demand generated by artists promoting their work, ultimately detracting from their promotional efforts. For example, the release of new music or promotional tours can lead to an increase in the creation of such deepfake tracks.

As the music industry grapples with these challenges, figures from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) show that global recorded music revenues grew by 6.4% last year, reaching $31.7 billion, indicating a resilience amidst the emerging threats.

In conjunction with these developments, the UK government announced an important pause on plans to allow AI firms to train their systems on copyrighted material without consent, following pressure from the music community. The growing debate around AI regulation is seen as a pivotal point for both protecting artists' rights and encouraging innovation in the industry.

Efforts are now calling for clearer labeling of AI-generated content on streaming platforms to help consumers differentiate between genuine music and AI imposters, with the industry recognizing that transparency is vital for a fair and sustainable music ecosystem.