How Spotify & Apple Music Are Increasing AI Transparency
As AI becomes an increasingly common part of music creation, streaming platforms are introducing new ways to give listeners greater transparency around how music is made and who is behind it. Both Spotify and Apple Music have recently announced updates around AI disclosure, but they are taking slightly different approaches. Spotify is focusing on AI-generated artist identities, while Apple Music is introducing labels to identify music in which AI has played a material role in its creation.
Spotify Introduces AI Persona Badges
Spotify has introduced new AI Persona badges to give listeners more clarity around the identity of artists they discover on the platform. The badges are expected to begin appearing from mid-September 2026. An AI Persona relates specifically to the artist's public identity, rather than how their music was created. This means that an artist who uses AI as part of their creative process will not automatically be classified as an AI Persona.
The AI Persona badge may appear:
Artist profile banner
Artist’s 'About' section
Spotify Search results
Alongside tracks within playlists
Listeners can select the badge to find out whether the artist has disclosed their AI Persona status themselves or whether Spotify has identified the profile following a review.
Artists and their teams can now self-disclose their AI Persona status through Spotify for Artists. Spotify will also review profiles itself and may apply a badge where an artist’s name, imagery and wider public presentation appear to represent a photorealistic AI-generated identity.
What happens if Spotify applies a badge?
If Spotify applies a badge following its review, the artist or their team will be notified and given the opportunity to self-disclose or appeal the decision. Spotify also plans to introduce a way for listeners to report profiles they believe represent AI Personas.
What this means for recommendations?
One of the most significant aspects of the update is how AI Personas may be treated within Spotify's recommendation systems. Music from identified AI Personas won’t be included in Spotify's editorial or algorithmic recommendations by default. However, it can still be recommended to listeners who have actively engaged with the artist, such as by following their profile, but artists with an AI Persona badge could see reduced visibility across Spotify's recommendations.
It's also important to distinguish the AI Persona badge from AI Credits. AI Credits relate to how AI was used in the creation of a track, whereas the AI Persona badge relates specifically to the identity being presented to listeners.
Apple Music Introduces Made With AI Labels
Apple Music is taking a different approach, focusing on AI's role in the creation of the music itself.
Apple introduced AI Transparency Tagging within its content delivery feed. Record labels and distributors are asked to tag content where AI was used to create a material portion of the content. Later this year, these tags will become visible to listeners through Made With AI Labels, giving audiences a clearer indication when AI has played a significant role in the creation of a track.
The requirement includes AI-platform-generated content, which Apple defines as ‘content primarily derived from a generative AI service’. This means AI Transparency Tags should be included where a material portion of the content has been generated using AI, rather than simply because AI tools were used somewhere in the wider creative process.
The aim is to give listeners greater transparency about the music they are hearing, while ensuring that content providers accurately disclose the role AI has played in the creation process.
What Does This Mean for Artists and Labels?
These updates make it increasingly important to understand where and how AI has been used in a release. Spotify and Apple Music are taking different approaches: Spotify is focused on transparency around AI-generated artist identities, while Apple Music is focused on AI's role in creating the music itself. As a result, the information required and how it is presented to listeners can vary between platforms.
When delivering music, teams should make sure they have a clear understanding of the role AI has played in both the artist identity and the creation of the content, so the relevant disclosures can be made accurately. With DSPs continuing to develop their approach to AI, this is likely to become an increasingly important part of the delivery process.