‘Better move would be to ban it’: Apple Music steps up plan for AI-generated song labels, but some users think it doesn’t go far enough

Apple Music will soon force artists to label their AI-generated tunes It follows moves from rival streaming services to limit AI music Some users want Apple to outright ban AI tracks from its platform The subject of music generated by artificial intelligence (AI) has become a hot topic over the last couple of years, with the matter proving to be deeply polarizing among music lovers.

Now, Apple is stepping in to enforce AI tags in Apple Music — but some users don’t think it’s going far enough.

According to The Hollywood Reporter , Apple sent out emails to “industry partners” earlier this week outlining its position.

Those messages made it clear that AI labels will start appearing “later this year” and won't be optional.

“Content providers will be required to include AI Transparency Tags in any instance where AI was used to create a material portion of the content, including tracks that are AI platform generated,” Apple said.

“We define AI-platform-generated content as anything that is primarily derived from a generative AI service.” This comes a few months after Apple started allowing record labels and artists to voluntarily signal that tracks were made with AI assistance through so-called ‘Transparency Tags.’ The latest update goes further, though, requiring music distributors to flag AI content so consumers know exactly what they’re getting.

AI fraud and streaming manipulation (Image credit: TechRadar) Apple didn’t outline how exactly it would enforce its new policy.

It follows a similar move from Spotify, which revealed earlier this month that it would start labeling AI artists and would exclude them from curated and algorithmic recommendations.

Rival service Tidal no longer pays uploaders if it detects that their submissions were made with AI.

Apple Music's new course of action comes amid growing disquiet over the use of AI in music creation.

Popular concern over AI tracks has grown so much that tools like Detect Music have emerged to help people identify whether AI was used in the music they listen to.

Surveying social media, it’s clear that plenty of people support Apple’s move.

“Good, but that took way too long,” lamented one person on Reddit .

Another user wondered, “I might switch over to Apple Music once this is implemented, if there’s also an option to block AI content.” Yet for others, Apple isn’t going far enough.