Apple Music plans to tell you when a song is AI-generated by adding a new label next to tracks, using a different disclosure method than its biggest streaming rival, Spotify.
That’s according to The Hollywood Reporter, which obtained an email sent to Apple’s industry partners stating that the correct tags must be used before the feature becomes available. The email says the public-facing labels will launch “later this year,” but there’s no word on an official launch date.
In March, Apple Music introduced what it calls transparency tags for music distributors to show when AI was used to create content. Those weren’t mandatory at first, but that’s set to change with the introduction of these new visible labels, though it's unclear how Apple will enforce them.
The email to partners says, “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.”
It’s unclear what portion of the content would need to be artificially created to justify the tag, or how Apple plans to enforce its rules. Apple’s email says, “We define AI-platform-generated content as anything that is primarily derived from a generative AI service.”
Earlier this month, Spotify announced plans to expand its own AI labeling, focusing on telling users when an artist is artificial rather than specific songs. If disclosed, songs aren't used in editorial or algorithmic recommendations, plus an "AI Persona" badge is added to the artist's profile.
Apple's implementation may make it clearer to users when a song is artificially created compared with how Spotify works. Deezer and YouTube Music also ask distributors to flag when songs are created by AI and use advanced tools to help flag when they're not marked correctly.
Apple told Billboard in April that over a third of uploads to its platform were now AI-generated music, but those tracks accounted for less than half a percentage of total listens. It’s unclear whether those numbers have changed significantly in recent months.