Paris: Music and technology have evolved side by side for centuries. From the earliest bone flutes and stringed instruments to the phonograph, synthesizers, and streaming platforms, each technological shift has changed how music is created, performed, and shared while preserving its role as one of humanity's most powerful forms of expression. Today, however, artificial intelligence is testing that relationship in an entirely new way.

According to Anadolu Agency, French music streaming platform Deezer recently announced that AI-generated uploads surpassed half of all its new daily music deliveries for the first time, averaging around 90,000 tracks a day since introducing its AI detection tool in January 2025. This announcement has raised broader questions about the scale of AI-generated music across the streaming industry and what its rapid rise could mean for artists.

While no other major streaming service has published comparable figures, platforms across the industry have introduced policies to manage AI-generated music. Last year, Spotify removed more than 75 million spam tracks during "a period marked by the explosion of generative AI tools," introducing new policies targeting impersonation, spam, and AI disclosures for music. Similarly, other platforms like Apple and Bandcamp have undertaken initiatives to increase transparency and restrict AI-generated content.

The rapid rise of AI-generated music has deepened divisions across the industry. A 2024 study by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) estimated that AI-generated music would generate a cumulative £40 billion ($46 billion) over five years, potentially accounting for around 20% of music streaming revenues by 2028. Amid such projections, AI music generators like Suno and Udio have surged in popularity, allowing users to create complete songs within minutes.

For some artists and producers, AI represents an inevitable technological shift. Prominent figures like producers Diplo and Timbaland have embraced AI in their creative processes, seeing it as a tool to enhance their work. However, many artists remain firmly opposed, voicing concerns over privacy, identity, and the potential undermining of creators' rights. In 2024, the Artist Rights Alliance published an open letter signed by over 200 artists, urging AI developers and music platforms to reconsider their approaches.

As AI-generated music gains traction, artists' groups warn that the technology could make it harder for human musicians to be discovered and earn a living. Concerns have already materialized, with AI-assisted artists gaining significant recognition on charts. Industry leaders like Featured Artists Coalition CEO David Martin and Jess Partridge from European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) have emphasized the challenges artists face in an increasingly saturated market.

Martin and Partridge have also raised concerns about the use of copyrighted works to train AI models without artists' consent. They argue that creators' work has been used to train AI, leading to unfair competition. Calls for clearer AI agreements, mandatory labeling of AI-generated music, and public reporting on AI tracks have been made to address these issues. Despite these challenges, Martin and Partridge underline the potential of AI as a valuable creative tool when used responsibly.