Artists face fraud as AI-generated tracks appear on streaming platforms, imitating real musicians and exploiting royalties worldwide

Fraudulent AI-generated music is increasingly appearing on streaming platforms, mimicking real artists and exploiting royalties, according to reports from affected musicians.

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British folk musician Emily Portman discovered in July that an album titled Orca had appeared under her name on Spotify and Apple Music, despite her last release being in 2022.

The tracks, generated by AI, mirrored her folk-inspired style, leaving Portman disturbed by the impersonation.

“I just felt really uncomfortable… people could be going to my profile and think, ‘wow, what’s this?’” she said.

Australian musician Paul Bender, bassist for Grammy-nominated band Hiatus Kaiyote, also found four AI-generated songs uploaded to his band, The Sweet Enoughs.

He described the process as “the easiest scam in the world,” pointing to weak security measures on streaming platforms.

Following an Instagram discussion, Bender compiled a list of suspect albums, including works attributed to deceased artists such as Scottish experimental musician Sophie.

AI-powered generators like Suno and Udio have become so sophisticated that most listeners cannot distinguish between AI-created tracks and original music, according to a November Ipsos study for Deezer.

Fraudsters exploit this technology to earn royalties, often amplified by bots inflating streaming numbers.

Dougie Brown of UK Music said the Portman case exemplifies how AI can impersonate real artists.

He noted that while individual revenues may be low, automated streams multiply earnings significantly.

Removal of fraudulent tracks from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music has been inconsistent, taking anywhere from 24 hours to eight weeks.

Philip Morris of the Musicians’ Union highlighted the limited legal protections for artists, especially in the UK, where copyright laws leave musicians vulnerable to imitation.

In response, Spotify and Apple Music are working with distributors to improve detection and prevent fraud.

Despite these challenges, Portman remains focused on her craft.

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“The album that I’m making… it’s all about those human connections, creativity, and teaming up with other amazing creatives,” she said, underscoring the value of authentic artistry in the era of AI-generated content.