Tidal won’t pay royalties on AI-generated music but isn’t banning it outright
TL;DR
Tidal will no longer monetize music it identifies as fully AI-generated, but the platform is not banning those tracks outright. Starting July 15, fully AI-generated tracks identified by Tidal will get an icon so listeners can recognize them. Tidal has not said which detection tools it uses. Later, it may also label tracks that are substantially AI-generated. The company says it may remove or block AI music tied to fraud, deceptive uploads, high-volume uploads, or unusual streaming behavior.
Nauti's Take
This is pragmatic, but it also gives Tidal a lot of power. The platform will decide what counts as fully AI-generated without disclosing how that detection works.
For artists, the direction makes sense: royalties should not disappear into synthetic upload farms. For platforms, though, it sets a tricky precedent where labeling and monetization depend on black-box checks.
Briefingshow
Tidal is drawing a new line: AI music may remain on the platform, but it should not automatically share in royalties meant for human-made work. That is less drastic than a ban, but economically much tougher. The real test will be detection accuracy and whether artists get a clear way to challenge mistakes.
Sources