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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondent

An AI-generated band got 1m plays on Spotify. Now music insiders say listeners should be warned

AI image of the Velvet Sundown performing
AI-generated image of AI-generated band the Velvet Sundown playing AI-generated music. Illustration: Velvet Sundown

They went viral, amassing more than 1m streams on Spotify in a matter of weeks, but it later emerged that hot new band the Velvet Sundown were AI-generated – right down to their music, promotional images and backstory.

The episode has triggered a debate about authenticity, with music industry insiders saying streaming sites should be legally obliged to tag music created by AI-generated acts so consumers can make informed decisions about what they are listening to.

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