Spotify is facing boycotts from both artists and subscribers over its move into AI.
Not only is the streaming service being criticized for its association with an AI military startup, but one of the most popular new bands on the platform is suspected to be AI-created.
The band, named The Velvet Sundown, already have over 550,000 million monthly listeners despite only debuting on the service in early June.
Promotional images of the band all appear to be AI generated, and the credits on their music has no writers, producers or musicians listed.
There’s also no live performances or interviews of the band anywhere to be found, and none of the four members have any kind of internet presence.
The band also has barely any social media followers, with just 322 on Instagram and 47 followers on X.
Despite this, The Velvet Sundown have been featured on multiple popular Spotify playlists.
A new band called The Velvet Sundown (pictured) are rumored to be AI-generated despite amassing over half a million listeners on Spotify
After several media reports suggested that The Velvet Sundown might be AI-generated, the band responded through a series of posts on X, yet did not provide any evidence to counter the allegations.
‘It’s completely absurd that so-called “journalists” continue to promote the unfounded and lazy theory that The Velvet Sundown is “AI-generated” without any evidence,’ they stated.
‘Not a single one of these “writers” has reached out, visited a show, or listened beyond the Spotify algorithm,’ they continued.
‘This is not a joke. This is our music, written in long, sweaty nights in a cramped bungalow in California with real instruments, real minds, and real soul. Every chord, every lyric, every mistake — HUMAN.’
They added, ‘Just because we don’t do TikTok dances or livestream our process doesn’t mean we’re fake.’
And despite their miniscule following on social media, the band said that they had to ‘lock down’ all of their accounts ‘due to harassment’.
However, none of their accounts are officially verified by any site outside of Spotify, and none of their social media accounts have been set to private either.
A number of artists including indie band Deerhoof are boycotting Spotify over Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in AI military technology
On Deezer, where The Velvet Sundown’s music also appears, there’s a warning from the streamer stating, ‘some tracks on this album may have been created using artificial intelligence’.
DailyMail.com has contacted The Velvet Sundown for comment.
Back in 2017, Spotify was forced to deny reports that they had created ‘fake’ artists to fill up their playlists, presumably in a bid to reduce royalty payments.
‘We do not and have never created ‘fake’ artists and put them on Spotify playlists. Categorically untrue, full stop,’ they said at the time.
‘We do not own rights, we’re not a label, all our music is licensed from rights holders and we pay them – we don’t pay ourselves.’
Meanwhile, allegations of AI artists isn’t the only issue that Spotify is dealing with right now.
The streaming service is currently facing boycotts from a handful of fans and artists after a venture capital firm founded by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek contributed 600 million euros ($693.6 million) to German military tech startup Helsing.
According to the Financial Times, the company is producing drones, aircraft and submarines, and developing a system to create AI fighter pilots.
Ek told the publication, ‘There’s an enormous realisation that it’s really now AI, mass and autonomy that is driving the new battlefield’.
Ek’s involvement in military technology has caused a number of artists to pull their music from Spotify, including indie band Deerhoof and Amsterdam label Kalahari Oyster Cult.
‘We don’t want our music killing people,’ Deerhoof said in a statement. ‘We don’t want our music tied to AI battle tech’.
Others have decided to cancel their Spotify accounts.
‘Cancelled my subscription and never going back. should’ve made the move ages ago as it’s been red flags for a long time,’ wrote one user.
Another posted, ‘I canceled my subscription since I found out the owner is spending [millions] on military AI tech, nah thanks.’
