TIDAL will tag fully AI-generated music and block royalties
TIDAL is introducing a policy that will automatically tag wholly AI-generated music and block it from earning royalties. Music Business Worldwide reported that the Block-owned streaming service will also remove AI-generated music that impersonates artists or is tied to fraud. TIDAL said the policy is a living document that will change as the technology changes. The company is not banning AI-made music outright and said it will accept AI-generated music that meets its standards and rightsholder agreements. The payout line is clear: music identified as 100% AI-generated will not earn royalties on the service.
THE BREAKDOWN
Music talent teams should treat platform AI policies as deal terms because they affect catalog value and fraud risk. Managers need warranties from distributors that uploads are properly labeled and do not impersonate a client or dilute their catalog. Artists using AI tools should keep documentation that shows human authorship, session files and contributor splits. Brand managers licensing music for creator campaigns should ask whether a track could be flagged or demonetized by a platform. Contract language should cover takedown rights, replacement music and liability if AI-generated audio triggers a claim after a campaign launches.
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