AI Band Velvet Sundown Causes Controversy on Spotify

In just a month, the AI-created band Velvet Sundown has claimed the top spot on Spotify charts, but this has also triggered significant backlash from listeners and critics alike. In response, Spotify had to revise its content and guidelines for AI-generated music.

Debuting in June, Velvet Sundown released two albums of supposedly “original” songs, managing to rack up over a million streams, which is impressive given the usual challenges faced by newcomers. It’s quite a curious phenomenon, to say the least.

Notably, musician Nick Cave has openly dismissed the concept of AI music, labeling it as “grotesque.” Meanwhile, Elton John has expressed concerns that AI-generated music could further erode the royalties of artists, pointing out issues arising from algorithm-driven playlist recommendations.

No Warm Fuzzies for AI Tunes

The backlash was swift. Cave, for instance, was very vocal about his distaste for AI music. Elton John chimed in as well, cautioning that such trends might dilute existing artists’ revenue streams alongside the ever-influential algorithms and playlists.

Two popular music commentators, Rick Beato and Ted Gioia, have habitually criticized both the music industry and Spotify for their exploitative tendencies. They put out a series of videos and articles that further deepened the conversation around this issue.

Beato, a skilled producer and guitarist, utilized his knowledge and tools to demonstrate that Velvet Sundown’s music was generated by AI long before the allegations came to light, resulting in a viral video that captured over 2 million views.

Is This All Just a Ruse?

Gioia has gone so far as to label Velvet Sundown a “scam.” His critiques, particularly about Spotify’s royalty practices, have been consistent and cutting. He noted that despite the impressive streaming numbers for Velvet Sundown—estimated earnings between $3,000 and $5,000 for the month—they hardly stand up to traditional artists’ revenues.

Gioia has brought attention back to a controversy Spotify faced in 2022, suggesting that the platform had plans to collaborate with a music production company, Firefly Entertainment, to churn out “fake artists” and songs to plug into their playlists at a low cost; which, in essence, meant avoiding royalty payments altogether.

Interestingly, just as the dust was beginning to settle from Velvet Sundown’s removal, Gioia alleged that Spotify was still promoting AI-generated content tied to notable but sometimes deceased artists, like Blaze Foley.

In light of these controversies surrounding AI music, Spotify reached out directly to critics with a statement on its updated policies, signaling a shift in how they plan to approach this issue.

What Lies Ahead for Spotify?

The future of Spotify—and the impact of AI music—remains somewhat uncertain. New generative AI tools emerge daily, often eluding detection by existing systems. Many music enthusiasts, I think, are left wondering if they can depend on critics like Gioia and Beato to navigate these murky waters for much longer. As of now, though, Velvet Sundown’s works are still available for streaming on Spotify and other platforms. It’s kind of perplexing when you consider the financial implications involved.