What used to be a small trickle of experimental tracks has turned into a massive flood of automated music. AI music generators now make it much harder for real musicians to get noticed and earn a living.
For working musicians, the main issue isn’t listener preference, but fraud. Deezer’s internal data shows that AI tracks account for just 1% to 3% of real plays on the service. However, up to 85% of streams on those AI tracks came from fake bot accounts. A study by CISAC and PMP Strategy estimates that unchecked AI uploads put 25% of human creators’ income at risk by 2028, cutting up to €4 billion from artists worldwide.
There is also a huge gap between what people hear and what they want. In an Ipsos study of 9,000 listeners across eight countries, 97% could not tell the difference between AI songs and human compositions in blind audio tests. Yet, 80% of listeners want clear labels on AI content, and 52% believe AI songs should be banned from official music charts.
Deezer is now taking action by removing AI tracks tied to streaming fraud. Using a detection tool with a 99.8% accuracy rate, the platform blocks AI content from algorithmic recommendations and official playlists. “We have the technology to track this development, and an ambition to do what’s right,” said Deezer CEO Alexis Lanternier, calling for shared standards across all streaming platforms.
Without shared industry rules, these automated uploads will continue to crowd out real musicians and shrink their royalty payouts. Deezer’s policy sets a strong precedent, but protecting artists will ultimately require every major streaming platform to follow suit.
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