AI-generated music challenges copyright and listener recognition

The rise of AI-generated artists is creating challenges for the music industry and copyright frameworks. An Ipsos survey conducted for Deezer involving 9,000 people found that 97% of listeners cannot distinguish between AI-generated and human-made music. These synthetic artists often utilize automated compositions, synthetic voices, and AI-generated visuals, frequently releasing content at an industrial pace.

To identify these entities, investigators look for a lack of verifiable traces such as live concerts, interviews, or consistent public presences. Red flags include vague biographies, repetitive cover art, and visual inconsistencies in AI-generated imagery, such as distorted hands or jewelry.

Regarding legal protections, a report presented to the Conseil supérieur de la propriété littéraire et artistique (CSPLA) suggests maintaining existing copyright principles rather than creating new definitions. The report distinguishes between ‘synthetic production,’ which lacks significant human intervention and falls outside copyright protection, and ‘hybrid creation,’ where humans play an active role. Hybrid works may be protected if they meet the criterion of originality, defined as the imprint of the author's personality.