Apple Music and Spotify are facing criticism for not flagging AI-generated music on their streaming platforms. The issue became clear with the rise of The Velvet Sundown, a band with hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners, which many believe is not a real group but a creation of artificial intelligence.
The Velvet Sundown’s album “Dust and Silence” is available on major platforms. Their social media accounts post photos of band members, but these images look computer-generated. While the band claims to be real, they refuse video interviews and disappear when asked for proof.
Experts like YouTube musician Rick Beato have analyzed their songs and believe the music is AI-generated. Streaming sites like Apple and Spotify currently don’t label this music as AI-created. Only smaller services, like Deezer, clearly mark “AI-generated content” on suspect bands like The Velvet Sundown.
This lack of transparency is a growing concern. Last week, The Velvet Sundown’s monthly listeners soared from 470,000 to 634,000 on Spotify. That means real human artists lose revenue to bands that may not even exist. Listeners aren’t told if what they hear was made by people or written by machines trained on others’ work—often without credit.
Similar cases, like Stellar Cruise and The Luna Lounge, suggest the problem could grow fast. Without action, Apple, Spotify, and other streaming giants may see their platforms flooded by AI-generated artists—and most customers will have no idea.
Some believe streaming services must urgently update their policies. Many think platforms should publicly label all AI-generated tracks so listeners can choose what to support. If not, a wave of AI music could quietly overtake the charts, leaving real musicians behind.
Apple and Spotify have not commented yet. For now, consumers will have to guess which artists are real and which might just be well-marketed algorithms.
