Rock band with more than 1 million Spotify listeners reveals it's entirely AI-generated — down to the musicians themselves
Share this @internewscast.com

A vibrant rock band that rapidly climbed to the top of Spotify’s charts revealed it was completely created by artificial intelligence, merely a month after its debut album garnered one million listeners.

The band, Velvet Sundown, with its ’60s rock-and-roll style, disclosed on Saturday that nothing about it was authentic, after fans noticed an absence of any personal information or people linked to the band online.

Its debut album, “Floating on Echoes,” was released on June 5 to mass appeal online.

The album’s standout track, a pro-peace folk rock number titled “Dust on the Wind,” reached No. 1 on Spotify’s daily “Viral 50” chart in Britain, Norway, and Sweden from June 29 to July 1.

All the while, the one million monthly listeners who started following the Velvet Sundown had no idea they were just listening to a mass of artificial intelligence made by fake musicians.

The photos of the band shared online and featured on the album’s cover were unnaturally smooth and matte and the guitarist’s hand was wonky with fused fingers gripping his instrument — a classic hallmark of AI-generated images.

The band’s lyrics, too, were a perfect mesh of generic anti-war sentiments and other clichés like “Nothin’ lasts forever but the earth and sky, it slips away, and all your money won’t another minute buy.”

The faux rockstars were also pumping out new albums scarily — and inhumanly — fast, releasing two in June alone and another set for mid-July.

The band finally revealed its secret over the weekend.

It updated its Spotify biography Saturday to reflect the AI twist, assuring that the project hadn’t been trying to bamboozle its audience.

“The Velvet Sundown is a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence. This isn’t a trick – it’s a mirror. An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI,” the biography reads.

Some people who had seen through the band’s ploy early tried to take advantage of its viral success before the truth came out.

A Quebec-based web safety expert posed as a spokesperson for the Velvet Sundown under the pseudonym Andrew Frelon, which translates to hornet in French, and even slid false information to Rolling Stone magazine about his supposed clients.

But the man behind the Frelon quickly confessed that he was just trying to troll people online.

It’s unclear if the Velvet Sundown will face any backlash from Spotify or any other platforms where it may be eligible for streaming revenue.

Starting on July 15, YouTube announced that it would be cutting all monetization, including advertisements, for any content generated by AI.

In late June, popular YouTuber Mr.Beast announced a tool that would use AI to make thumbnails for videos. He quickly removed it after receiving backlash for supporting an artificial intelligence engine, which often requires massive amounts of energy that would steadily offset his years of environmental work and reforestation efforts.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes requests President Donald Trump to commute her prison sentence, per US Department of Justice

Elizabeth Holmes’ Bold Move: Appeals to Trump for Sentence Commutation in Theranos Scandal

SAN FRANCISCO — Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos who fell…
Teen mass killer pleads guilty to NC rampage that left five dead, including brother, police officer

Tragedy in North Carolina: Teen Admits Guilt in Devastating Rampage Leaving Five Dead

An 18-year-old confessed on Wednesday to executing a deadly mass shooting in…
Netanyahu agrees to join Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace after initial pushback

Netanyahu Joins Trump’s Gaza Peace Board After Initial Resistance: A New Chapter in Middle East Diplomacy

In a significant turn of events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced…
NASA astronaut who was stuck in space retires after 27-year career

Legendary NASA Astronaut Retires After 27 Years: Reflecting on a Historic Space Odyssey

Suni Williams, a renowned NASA astronaut who made history with her extended,…
ICE reels in the worst of the worst with Operation Catch of the Day in Maine

Operation Catch of the Day: ICE Cracks Down on High-Priority Targets in Maine

In a decisive move spearheaded by the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and…
Federal agent opens fire in Willowbrook, California prompting massive response from authorities

Breaking News: Federal Agent’s Gunfire Sparks Major Law Enforcement Operation in Willowbrook, CA

A federal agent discharged their weapon during a law enforcement operation in…
Minneapolis ICE shooting: Independent autopsy of Renee Good released by Romanucci & Blandin, law firm in civil investigation

Independent Autopsy Reveals New Details in Renee Good’s Minneapolis ICE Shooting Case Amid Ongoing Civil Investigation

MINNEAPOLIS — On Wednesday evening, an independent autopsy report concerning Renee Good…
Dramatic Michigan apartment fire rescue seen on helmet cam

Helmet Cam Captures Heroic Rescue During Intense Michigan Apartment Fire

Dramatic Michigan apartment fire rescue seen on helmet cam In a dramatic…
Nanny affair case turns emotional as alleged killer husband watches bodycam video

Emotional Tensions Rise as Accused Husband Faces Bodycam Footage in Nanny Affair Murder Trial

Brendan Banfield was visibly emotional in court on Wednesday as jurors reviewed…
ICE launches new operation in Maine amid Trump's broader illegal immigrant crackdown around the US

ICE Initiates Strategic Operation in Maine as Part of Nationwide Immigration Enforcement Under Trump Administration

In a significant enforcement action, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted…
Prince Harry disputes having 'leaky' social circle in Daily Mail trial

Prince Harry Challenges Claims of ‘Leaky’ Inner Circle in High-Profile Daily Mail Legal Battle

Prince Harry took the stand on Wednesday with a resolute demeanor as…
NYPD detectives mistaken for ICE, treated rudely by hospital staff after scuffle with suspect

NYPD Detectives Misidentified as ICE Agents, Face Tense Encounter with Hospital Staff After Suspect Altercation

Last week, a group of New York City detectives faced unexpected hostility…