Deezer might not be the first name you think of regarding music streaming, but the platform is heavily involved in the current battle against AI-generated music. According to a recent press release, the service is being bombarded by "nearly 75,000" AI-created tunes every single day. This represents roughly 44% of all daily uploads on the platform (via Ars Technica).
The Influx of AI-Generated Tunes
While the volume of these uploads is staggering, Deezer's detection measures suggest that the impact on actual listening habits may be limited. The company reports that only one to three percent of this music is actually consumed by end users. Furthermore, 85% of these AI-generated tunes are detected as fraudulent and subsequently demonetized.
Despite these defensive measures, the sheer scale of the influx presents a significant hurdle for the platform's moderation efforts.
Can Listeners Distinguish Human Art from AI?
To better understand this shift, Deezer commissioned a "world's first" survey late last year to study perceptions and attitudes toward generative AI music. The study included a total of 9,000 participants and yielded some troubling results. In a blind test, 97% of those surveyed could not tell the difference between fully AI-generated music and its human-made equivalent.
The survey also highlighted a strong desire for transparency and fairness among listeners:
- 80% of participants agreed that AI-generated music should be clearly labeled to listeners.
- 52% of respondents feel that 100% AI-generated songs should not be included in charts alongside human-made songs.
A Financial Threat to Human Creators
As an ex-semi-professional musician, I believe the paid minstrels among us might need even more protection from generative AI than your average worker. It is already a difficult game creating music for a living, especially when streaming services often pay artists relatively small amounts. If human artists are forced to compete against a massive wave of indistinguishable tracks, the future looks grim for the average bard.
There is, of course, a devil's advocate argument to be made. If AI can fool listeners to such a high degree, it may further devalue the need for those who write music from scratch. Ultimately, society must decide how much we value the fruits of human creation.
Combating Fraudulent Uploads
Deezer is taking proactive steps by licensing its AI-generated music detection tools to the wider music industry. The company views the mass uploading of these tracks as essentially fraudulent behavior, as the primary purpose appears to be monetization.
The spread of this technology is described as "a critical challenge for the music industry." According to a CISAC study, nearly 25% of creator revenues could be at risk by 2028, which could amount to as much as $4 billion. It would be a sad state of affairs if these projections come to pass.
(Image credit: Larian Studios)
