Spotify to introduce AI badge after fans make feelings clear

AI-generated music has long been a concern for fans and artists.

Musician Alex Winn tells BBC Newsbeat he thinks the incoming feature is a “really good thing”.

“It almost separates the people who have created music properly from the people just using AI,” says guitarist Winn, who plays in the North East band Swindled.

The musician feels people want to “connect emotionally with music” and he thinks “AI can’t really do that”.

The 19-year-old also says having the AI label will help people make an informed choice about their listening habits, and he hopes it will redirect users to other artists and help level the playing field.

“Bands are finding it hard to compete no matter what, nevermind with some AI bands taking over,” he says.

Music fan Leon Keenan thinks AI music shouldn’t be removed completely from Spotify, but agrees that clearly labelling it is a “really good” idea.

“I definitely don’t like AI music, it’s really bad, music is about the passion,” the 20-year-old adds.

Ellie Sumner, 21, also welcomes the new label as she says she has not realised work was AI-generated before.

“It’s very easy to be like ‘AI is so obvious’ and maybe look down on my parents and grandparents falling for it, but I’ve definitely fallen for AI before,” she says.

“It’s sad that we have to label it, but also quite necessary.”