Spotify Deletes 75 Million AI Spam Tracks

Spotify removed more than 50 million AI-generated slop and spam tracks from its user recommendations this year after internal reviews showed listeners consistently skipped or flagged the low-quality content. The company also permanently deleted over 75 million spam tracks for severe or repeated rule violations.

To identify synthetic filler, the streaming service uses a multi-layered system that analyzes upload patterns, metadata, listener engagement, and third-party AI detection tools. The company has implemented a 1,000-stream annual threshold for royalties to discourage fraudulent mass-upload schemes and has verified over 300,000 human artists. Additionally, Spotify introduced an AI Persona badge for non-human identities.

These actions occur amid broader industry conflict over generative AI. Major music labels, including Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, are currently suing AI startup Suno over the use of copyrighted recordings. While Warner Music Group settled its lawsuit with Suno through a licensing agreement, Suno CEO Mikey Shulman has announced plans for download limits and audio watermarking to prevent the mass distribution of AI songs.