Tidal updates policies to stop AI music being monetised: “We are only in the beginning”
Tidal has updated its policies with regard to AI, with the main takeaway being that music generated by the technology will no longer be monetised on the platform.
The streaming platform is often seen as one of the most ethical and effective companies, compared to their main competitors, such as Spotify and Apple Music.
However, with AI-generated content now flooding all of these streamers, it is often difficult to know how to combat the issue.
In new terms and conditions laid out via their website on June 29th, Tidal has taken an upfront stance when it comes to AI-generated music being uploaded to its platform, saying that while it will still accept this content, it will be held to higher standards and no longer be monetised.
Tidal began to outline its new policies by saying that it will now tag and label AI-generated content to users, so they can be conscious of what they may be listening to. “But the responsibility to identify and tag AI-generated content should not rest with Tidal alone,” they said. “We expect — and will begin to enforce — that content distributors identify AI-generated content before it reaches our platform.”
This is part of a general plan that “Tidal will hold AI-generated music to a higher standard of content integrity”, leading to plans in which, “AI-generated music associated with fraudulent activity will be blocked or removed from our platform.”
This includes music which intends to “deceive” listeners, such as similar cases seen on Spotify where an AI-generated track, supposedly by the country artist Blaze Foley, who was murdered in 1989, was uploaded and subsequently removed from the platform last year.
With the two aforementioned policies being implemented into Tidal from mid-July, it leads to the most significant development where, immediately from June 29th, AI-generated music will no longer be monetisable on the streamer.
“We are only in the beginning of the era of AI-generated music. We acknowledge the ongoing debate regarding whether certain AI-generated music (e.g. AI-generated music developed from fairly and properly licensed models) should be entitled to earn royalties,” the company said in justifying its stance.
They added: “This debate will continue as the technology advances and rightsholders and AI music platforms develop licensing models. Tidal’s priority is ensuring royalties go to original works directly produced, written, and performed by people. We will therefore not knowingly attribute royalties to music we identify as wholly AI-generated.”
Tidal also noted that the same standards will be upheld across the entire platform, from the over 100,000 songs from established artists to its Tidal Upload catalogue, where independent artists can upload and earn money from their music.
The updated policy is likely to come as a welcome development for music consumers looking to make an ethical choice with their streaming platform. Tidal already receives greater credit for its more generous compensation to artists than its competitors, due to musicians such as Beyoncé having a stake in the company.
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