Spotify to label AI-generated artist profiles with AI Persona badge from mid-September 2026

Spotify's AI Persona badge

Spotify announced on August 11, 2026, that from mid-September it will display an "AI Persona" badge on artist profiles whose public identity appears to be generated by artificial intelligence rather than representing a real person. The badge will appear on the banner and "About" section of artist profiles, in search results, and on track lines within playlists across mobile devices. Spotify said the move responds to listener feedback.

Listeners have been clear in telling us that they don't like seeing an artist profile that seems human, only to find out that the persona is AI-generated.

What the badge covers

The label targets the artist's public identity (name, images, presentation), not how the music was produced. A human artist who used AI tools in production will not receive the AI Persona badge; instead, Spotify offers a separate "AI Credits" feature, which the company says receives tens of thousands of submissions daily. Conversely, a virtual project with human musicians behind it could still be tagged if its public identity looks AI-generated. Two badge variants will exist: "AI Persona" when an artist self-discloses, and "Likely AI Persona" when Spotify reaches that conclusion on its own. In the latter case, the profile owner can appeal but cannot remove the label unilaterally while the review is pending.

Algorithmic exclusion

From mid-September, AI Persona tracks will be excluded by default from all editorial and algorithmic recommendations, including automated playlists such as Discover Weekly and Release Radar, and radio streams. The music remains on the platform and can still be found through direct searches, links, and third-party playlists. Users who already follow an AI Persona may still see that artist in their personal recommendations. Spotify has not announced demonetization: AI Persona profiles can continue to earn streams from direct traffic.

Detection and appeals

Since August 11, artists can self-disclose as AI Personas through Spotify for Artists. Spotify will not rely solely on self-reporting; the company will also conduct its own reviews, starting with profiles at certain audience levels and those featuring photorealistic AI-generated imagery. When Spotify labels a profile, the creator receives a notification and can either self-disclose or request a new verification. In the coming months, users will also be able to flag profiles they suspect of being AI-generated. Spotify said it will use both human review and AI-based investigative tools to identify cases.

Scale of AI music

Streaming platforms do not publish comprehensive figures on AI-generated content, but Deezer reported that in June 2026, half of all daily uploaded songs were AI-generated, amounting to 90,000 tracks per day, a new record. Spotify removed 75 million spam tracks from its platform last year, according to the Guardian. Among the cases cited is Velvet Sundown, a band confirmed as "a creation that was somewhere between human and machine" with 117,000 monthly listeners, whose profile will now receive the AI label. Another case is Eddie Dalton, an AI-created artist who placed multiple tracks in the iTunes top 100, sold 13,000 copies, and accumulated over 600,000 monthly streams.

Industry reaction

Queen guitarist Brian May spoke out against AI, questioning whether humanity needs the technology.

Maybe this is the time to realise we actually don't need AI, but I'm now very serious, I believe the price we are about to pay for this 'inevitable' development is way too high.

He also opposed the construction of data centres in the UK, saying they would "destroy our beautiful country." Spotify's announcement follows the launch of its "Verified by Spotify" badge in April 2026, which indicated a profile had been reviewed and met the platform's authenticity standard.