Spotify Removes 50 Million AI-Generated Slop and Spam Tracks From Recommendations

Spotify cuts AI slop from recommendations

Spotify says it has removed more than 50 million songs it classified as AI-generated slop or spam from user recommendations over the past year. The company announced the figure on Tuesday alongside changes to its music recommendation system that are meant to highlight songs from human artists.

Spotify said its editors apply the same standard and do not program content identified as slop or spam. The company added that since the changes were made, it has seen a marked decrease in listener concerns about this content appearing in recommendations.

How Spotify flags AI-generated tracks

Spotify said it uses a combination of listener engagement and feedback, upload patterns, metadata, and third-party AI detection tools to decide whether a track may be AI-generated slop. The company has stopped short of requiring labels on all AI tracks, but it introduced an "AI Persona" badge for artists that use an AI identity and do not represent a real person. Spotify said it will not recommend music from AI personas.

The cleanup figures add to earlier enforcement. Last year, Spotify said it took down more than 75 million songs identified as spam.

Rivals take different approaches

Other music streaming services have moved in different directions on AI music. YouTube Music has begun putting labels on AI-generated songs, Deezer has given users an option to filter out AI slop, and Bandcamp has banned AI music entirely.

At the same time, Spotify is working with Universal Music Group and the independent music publisher Believe to launch a tool for creating AI music remixes, a sign that the company is not rejecting AI-generated audio across the board.

Sources: The Verge