Sony Music Seeks 260,000 AI Track Takedowns as Streaming Fraud Costs Industry $2.2 Billion
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Oct 5
Sony Music Seeks 260,000 AI Track Takedowns as Streaming Fraud Costs Industry $2.2 Billion
1 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Oct 5
Summary
More than 260,000 tracks had been flagged by Sony Music for removal by end-September, up from 135,000 at end-March, as AI deepfakes increasingly mimicked artists including Adele, Harry Styles and Michael Jackson.
Sony said the fake songs and bot-driven bulk uploads are harming artists and siphoning royalties, with its digital chief estimating fraudulent streams may account for as much as 10% of tracks on streaming services.
The scale is widening across platforms: Deezer said 90,000 AI-generated songs were uploaded daily this summer—more than half of new music—and up to 85% of streams of fully AI-made tracks last year were fraudulent.
Industry estimates put annual losses from streaming fraud at $2.2 billion, while campaigners say tools such as Suno and distributors including DistroKid are being used by organized fraudsters to mass-produce and monetize fake music.
The takedown push comes as Sony and Universal pursue legal action against AI music companies including Suno over alleged unlicensed copying to train music-generation models; Suno rejects the claims.