Max HeyraudApple Music has announced a new initiative aimed at increasing transparency around AI-generated content on its platform.
When a substantial amount of a song, music video, composition, or album artwork is produced using AI tools, the streaming service will mandate that record labels and distributors apply “transparency tags.”
The action coincides with an increase in AI-generated music, which is fuelled by platforms like Suno and Udio that give users the means to produce music on a large scale. With over 2 million paid subscribers worldwide, Suno alone produces an estimated 7 million songs every day, which is equivalent to Spotify’s entire catalogue every two weeks.
Other streaming services have also taken steps to address AI-generated content. Spotify updated its policies last year, removing tracks that impersonate artists’ voices and introducing AI usage disclosures in song credits. Deezer rolled out an AI detection tool in early 2025 and reports that AI-generated content now accounts for 39% of its daily uploads.
Tension between labels and artists has increased as AI music has grown in popularity. A “Say No to Suno” campaign was recently started by a number of rights organisations to condemn AI platforms for using copyrighted content without authorisation and possibly diluting royalties for actual artists. Major labels have sued Suno and Udio over AI training on copyrighted works; however, some of these lawsuits have since been resolved.
With AI music now a major force in digital streaming, Apple’s initiative could set an industry precedent for labelling and transparency as the sector navigates this rapidly evolving landscape.
