In brief
Sony Music has requested the removal of 135,000 deepfake songs impersonating its artists due to increased fraud caused by generative AI technology. This surge in fake music not only harms the artists' reputation but also affects their commercial success, prompting concerns from industry leaders about the growing prevalence of AI in music creation.
Music giant Sony Music says it has requested the removal of more than 135,000 songs by fraudsters impersonating its artists on streaming services.
The so-called deepfakes were created using generative AI, and targeted some of the company's biggest acts, who include Beyoncé, Queen, and Harry Styles.
The proliferation of such counterfeits causes direct commercial harm to legitimate recording artists, Sony said - and deliberately target musicians who are promoting a new album.
In the worst cases, [the deepfakes] potentially damage a release campaign or tarnish the reputation of an artist, said Dennis Kooker, president of Sony's global digital business.
The company says the number of songs generated in this fashion is increasing as artificial intelligence technology becomes cheaper and easier to access.
It believes the 135,000 tracks it has discovered to date represent just a percentage of the total uploaded to streaming services.
Since last March alone, the company has identified around 60,000 songs falsely purporting to feature artists from its roster.
The issue highlights a broader concern in the music industry, where AI-generated content and streaming manipulation pose threats to revenue streams and the integrity of artistic expression.
