In Brief:
- Spotify is adding "AI Persona" badges in mid-September to identify virtual artists.
- Displayed on artist banners, "About" sections, search, and playlist tracks.
- Based on public identity/imagery, not music production.
- Artists can self-report, or Spotify will review profiles; flagged profiles can appeal.
- Excluded from algorithmic and editorial recommendations by default unless followed.
Spotify announced that it will begin adding "AI Persona" badges to AI-generated artist profiles starting in mid-September to increase transparency following listener concerns over virtual profiles posing as real humans.
The badges will appear on artist banners, "About" sections, search results, and track rows across playlists based on the artist's public identity rather than how the music itself was produced. Artists can self-disclose through Spotify for Artists, while Spotify will independently review profiles utilizing photorealistic AI imagery; flagged artists will have the chance to appeal or self-disclose, and listeners will be able to see whether the badge was voluntary or assigned via review.
Additionally, Spotify plans to exclude AI Personas from its editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default unless a user explicitly follows the artist.
Source: Reuters
