The recording industry's largest trade bodies have proposed a two-label system for music made with artificial intelligence, pushing streaming platforms to adopt clear markers for AI-generated and AI-assisted tracks. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with support from the Grammys and several independent music organisations, want the labels to become an industry standard.
How the two labels work
The "AI-generated" label covers tracks where AI created all or most creative elements - music produced entirely from prompts, as well as songs in which the main vocal performance or a key instrumental part was generated by AI. The "AI-assisted" label is for tracks that still involve substantial human creative input but use AI for certain elements. To qualify as AI-assisted rather than AI-generated, the main instrumental parts and vocal passages must be performed by humans.
For vocal artists and songwriters, the distinction is more than semantics. The label signals whether a human performance sits at the core of a track, which can affect royalty calculations, playlist placement, and audience perception. As AI tools become common in production workflows, understanding where the line is drawn between assistance and generation is critical. (AI Learning Path for Vocal Artists & Songwriters)
Platform adoption and response
Among major streaming services, only Deezer currently labels AI-generated tracks systematically. In late April, Spotify introduced a "Verified by Spotify" label that indicates an artist is likely human rather than an AI avatar, but it does not directly identify AI-generated content. Spotify declined to comment on the new industry proposal. Apple Music did not immediately respond, nor did DIMA, the Digital Media Association, which represents audio streaming services.
The organisations behind the label system said they will work on implementation with digital music services, distributors, aggregators, and standards bodies. No timeline was given.
Why this matters for creatives
For session musicians, producers, and songwriters, the labels offer a first line of defense against having AI-generated work misattributed or devalued. A clear tagging system makes it harder for fully synthetic tracks to pass as human-made, and it helps listeners make informed choices. As the music industry builds out these standards, professionals who stay fluent in AI tools - and the rules governing them - will be better positioned to protect their work and credit. Resources like AI for Creatives can help keep skills current without the hype.
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