Spotify enters AI partnership with Sony and Warner

Together with major music labels, Spotify wants to coordinate the use of artificial intelligence in music production. The Swedish music streaming service announced this in a statement. The collaboration with companies such as Sony Music, Universal, Warner, Merlin, and Believe is intended to result in “responsible” AI products that empower artists.

The reason for the initiative can be summarized as follows, according to Spotify: “If we don't do it, someone else will.” The company writes that it wants to protect artists' copyrights. “If the music industry doesn't take the lead currently, AI-powered innovation will happen elsewhere—without rights, consent, or compensation.”

The AI products developed in partnership with the record companies are intended to ensure that artists and their listeners are involved in the process from the outset, Spotify continues. Artists and rights holders should always have the option to opt out of the use of AI tools and participation in AI programs. New revenue streams generated through the use of AI should be distributed fairly so that artists also benefit. Furthermore, Spotify aims to ensure that the developed AI tools benefit the connection between fans and artists.

So far, these are declarations of intent—how these AI tools will look and how the promises will be concretely implemented is not clear from Spotify's announcement. There are plans to establish a research lab for music AI, the company merely writes. Work on a first product has already begun.

Spotify already has some features that use AI. These include an AI DJ that can greet the user with a real-time-generated voice and play music tailored to them. The AI, based on OpenAI technology, is intended to select suitable music based on listening behavior, including new releases as well as older songs that users haven't listened to for a long time. However, Spotify's AI DJ is only available in English.

In September, Spotify announced measures to combat AI spam on the music platform. Among other things, musicians will have to disclose in the future whether and in what form artificial intelligence is used in production. New filters are intended to ensure that AI music does not eat into the annual income of real artists.