Labelling AI-generated music.
Reviewed
Short answer
The EU AI Act does not require a label on every AI-generated song: the visible disclosure duty applies to deepfakes, and the Commission’s guidelines treat AI music resembling the individual style of existing artists as a deepfake that is part of an artistic work, which only needs a disclosure that does not hamper enjoyment. The provider of the music generator must still mark its audio in a machine-readable way, and platforms add their own rules, such as YouTube’s disclosure requirement for AI music that is the main focus of a video.
Official sources: Commission guidelines on Article 50, sections 4.1 and 6.1.3 · YouTube Help: Disclosing use of GenAI content
Who has which duty for AI music
| Who | Duty | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| The company behind the music generator | Mark its output in a machine-readable format, detectable as AI; the guidelines count speech, instrumental music and other audio as audio | Article 50(2) |
| An artist, label or brand releasing AI music that resembles existing artists | A deepfake within an artistic work: disclose in an appropriate way that does not hamper the display or enjoyment of the work | Article 50(4); guidelines section 6.1.3 |
| Anyone, for fully AI-composed music | The EU icons page lists “Fully AI-composed music or art” as a use of the “Fully AI-Generated” icon, with the note that it may enjoy the lighter disclosure for artistic works | EU icons page |
| A private person making songs for fun | No AI Act duty | Article 2(10) |
The lighter regime still requires a disclosure. The Code of Practice (Section 2, Commitment 3) lets signatories place it in the accompanying notes or description, in the credits, or next to the audio player, provided people notice it without extra clicks. It also has to respect third parties’ rights: the guidelines say the artistic exception cannot justify ignoring copyright, related rights or data protection.
What streaming platforms say
| Platform | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Creators must disclose GenAI content that creates music that is the main focus of the video; AI-generated music may get a label in the video player. | YouTube Help |
| Spotify | Supports an industry standard for AI disclosures in music credits developed through DDEX and displays them as labels and distributors submit them; it says this is not about punishing artists who use AI responsibly or down-ranking tracks. Vocal impersonation is allowed only with the impersonated artist’s authorisation. | Spotify, 25 September 2025 |
| Deezer | Tags albums that include fully AI-generated tracks and, at the time of its announcement, excluded fully AI-generated tracks from algorithmic and editorial recommendations. | Deezer, 20 June 2025 |
A practical routine for releases
- Note per track where AI was used: vocals, instruments, lyrics, mixing or mastering.
- Pass that through your distributor in the credits (Spotify displays the DDEX AI disclosures it receives).
- If a track imitates a real artist’s voice or style, disclose it in the description or credits and get the rights you need.
- On YouTube, tick the AI setting when AI music is the main focus of the video.
- Keep the generator’s files and any Content Credentials or watermark it embedded.
Questions
- Is AI music a deepfake?
- It can be. The Commission’s guidelines give AI-generated music in any genre resembling the individual style of existing artists as an example of a deepfake that is part of an artistic or creative work, so the lighter disclosure rule applies to it.
- Does Spotify ban AI music?
- Its 25 September 2025 announcement does not describe a ban. It describes AI disclosures in credits, stronger rules against unauthorised voice clones and impersonation, and work against spam; Spotify says it leaves creative decisions to artists.
Sources
- Guidelines on the transparency obligations under Article 50 of the AI Act (C(2026) 5054, 20 July 2026)European Commissionread
- EU Icons for labelling AI-generated contentEuropean Commissionread
- Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content (final text, PDF)European Commissionread
- AI Act, Article 50: Transparency obligationsEuropean Commission, AI Act Service Desk (AI Act Explorer)Consolidated text as at 27 July 2026 (includes the Digital Omnibus, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744), shown in the Commission’s AI Act Explorer.read
- Disclosing use of GenAI contentYouTube Helpread
- Spotify Strengthens AI Protections for Artists, Songwriters, and Producers (25 September 2025)Spotify Newsroomread
- Deezer launches world’s first AI tagging system for music streaming (20 June 2025)Deezer Newsroomread
Last reviewed by Volkan Çatak, Founder, Proofcan.
Not legal advice. This page explains official texts in plain words and links each one; check the sources, or a lawyer, before relying on it for a decision.