Tidal stops paying royalties for AI‑generated tracks

Music streaming service Tidal, owned by rapper Jay‑Z, announced that it will no longer pay royalties for songs created by artificial‑intelligence systems. The policy, effective from mid‑July, introduces stricter eligibility criteria and will block any AI‑generated track that is deemed fraudulent or that attempts to pass as a real artist. The move aims to protect human creators and ensure that revenue is directed to artists who invest time and effort in original production.

Tidal’s decision reflects broader industry concerns about the rapid rise of AI‑generated music, which has sparked debates over copyright, ethics, and the sustainability of creators’ livelihoods. Other major platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify, are also evaluating their own approaches to AI‑produced content, signalling an emerging shift in how digital music services will handle the technology’s impact on royalties and catalog integrity.