Sony Targets 135,000 AI ‘Deepfake’ Songs On Streaming Platforms

Global music company Sony Music has moved to remove over 135,000 artificial intelligence-generated “deepfake” songs from major streaming platforms.

The company said the fraudulent tracks use voice cloning technology to imitate popular artistes, including Beyoncé, Harry Styles and the rock band Queen.

According to Sony Music, the uploads are designed to divert streaming revenue from legitimate rights holders and often target artistes during major release periods.

Speaking at the launch of the Global Music Report in London, President of Sony’s Global Digital Business, Dennis Kooker, warned that the trend poses serious risks to the industry.

He noted that such content could damage release campaigns and negatively affect the reputation of artistes.

The report, released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, showed that global recorded music revenues grew by 6.4 per cent last year to $31.7 billion.

This marks the 11th consecutive year of industry growth despite rising technological challenges.

Industry stakeholders are now calling for stricter regulations, including proper labelling of AI-generated content.