Tidal Will Not Pay Royalties for Fully AI-Generated Music

Tidal’s New Approach to AI-Created Music

According to НВ — Техно: On June 30 at 11:00 AM, the streaming service Tidal unveiled a revised policy regarding music produced with artificial intelligence. Under these updated rules, Tidal will permit the upload of AI-assisted tracks, but no royalties will be paid to creators of songs deemed to be 100% AI-generated. These changes take effect on July 15.

Tidal’s main focus is ensuring fair compensation for music made by human artists. As part of the new policy, the platform will tag AI-created tracks with a special label. In the future, Tidal also plans to add markers to songs that are substantially produced with AI, helping listeners better understand the content they are streaming.

Publication Guidelines for Music on Tidal

Tidal enforces clear rules for music distribution:

• The platform prohibits uploading tracks that use the name, likeness, or work of individuals or bands without proper authorization.
• Music that could mislead listeners or degrade service quality is banned.
• Special attention is given to preventing fraudulent activity, including suspicious upload or streaming behavior.

It’s worth noting that as AI-generated music gains traction, other platforms are also taking action. For instance, Deezer has reported that nearly half of all daily new music uploads are created with AI, yet it only allows a small fraction of such tracks on its service. Meanwhile, Spotify has introduced a mechanism to combat the spread of AI-made music using its Verified by Spotify badge, and tracks or artists linked to AI cannot obtain this verification.

Ultimately, Tidal’s new policy on AI-created music prioritizes human creators while still leaving the door open for emerging technologies in the music industry.

The changes implemented by Tidal reflect a growing need to balance musical innovation with creator rights.

The rise of AI-generated music raises many questions about copyright and compensation. This policy could serve as a key step in shaping the rules for other streaming platforms, as the industry continues to adapt to new technologies and their impact on music.

As Tidal navigates the complexities of AI-generated music, it mirrors trends seen across the industry. Notably, Deezer has also introduced a tool to identify AI-created music, which highlights the ongoing efforts by streaming platforms to manage the influx of AI content while protecting human artists. This evolution in music distribution emphasizes the need for clarity and fairness in an ever-changing landscape.