AI Tagging on Streaming Services

As AI-generated music becomes more prevalent, streaming services are taking measures to ensure transparency and clarity for listeners about how the music on each platform was made. For this reason, UnitedMasters is now required to tag music that is fully or partially generated by AI.

We understand this may bring up questions for our users - see below for answers to common questions regarding AI tagging. Please be advised that these requirements, and this article, will change as streaming services continue to finalize their AI guidelines.

How is UnitedMasters determining that AI was used in a release?

There are two places for AI to be included on a release - in the audio file, and in the cover art.

For your audio file:

• First, the file is automatically scanned by a tool to detect AI.
• Then, your file is delivered to our review tool, where it's reviewed by a human on our team.
• If a track is determined to include AI during these processes - whether it's entirely AI, or includes AI elements - it will be delivered to streaming services with the AI tag for audio.

For your cover art:

• Artists can manually tag their cover art as AI while submitting a release.
• Once the release is submitted, our team will review.
• If you (the artist) or our team determines that the cover art includes AI, the release will be delivered with the AI tag for cover art.

How does this affect royalty payments?

This depends on the streaming service. Many DSPs are still finalizing requirements and guidelines for AI, while some have already made specific determinations on AI music and royalty payments. For example, TIDAL has announced that fully AI-generated tracks will be excluded from royalty payments.

How does this affect the visibility of AI music?

Visibility of AI music also varies by streaming service - different DSPs are taking different approaches, and these approaches will continue to evolve as AI music does. While certain services, like TIDAL and Qobuz, are taking stricter measures (such as potentially banning AI tracks from editorial and algorithmic playlists), some services like Spotify and Apple Music are focused on simply distinguishing AI-generated music from human-generated music.

How will I know if my tracks are tagged as AI?

The first time that one of your tracks is tagged as AI-generated, you’ll receive an email notifying you. After that, you’ll be able to see these tags by logging into your UM account and navigating to the release in the ‘Music’ section, as seen below.

I don’t want the AI tag on my release - what can I do?

You’re absolutely welcome to appeal any AI tags by reaching out to our support team. We’ll manually review your releases, including the audio file and cover art, to determine if the release was correctly or incorrectly tagged as AI. However, please be aware that if our team determines the release was correctly tagged as AI, that determination is final.

The goal of UnitedMasters' AI tagging processes is to ensure transparency and clarity for listeners, in line with requirements from streaming services.