Chicago Musicians Call For Two-Day Streaming Boycott Over AI
Originally published by AllHipHop Read the original
Chicago musicians asked listeners to skip Spotify and other music-streaming services on October 26 and 27 as they pushed back against AI-made music.
The call came at a rally in Federal Plaza, according to photographer Jack Siegel, who attended and documented the protest. He counted about 20 musicians, including blues guitarist Melody Angel and jazz singer Tammy McCann.
McCann argued that a machine could not draw on the human experiences behind a song. Angel spoke about music’s power to connect people and the risk of losing that bond.
The boycott dates follow a fresh Spotify update on AI content.
In its October 20 announcement, the company said it had blocked more than 50 million tracks it classed as slop or spam from recommendations this year. Those songs were kept out of suggestions, a different step from removing a recording from the service altogether.
The company said its checks combine listener feedback, upload patterns and third-party AI detectors.
The company also cited more than 75 million tracks removed for serious or repeated rule violations.
Its tools draw a line between an AI artist identity and AI use within a recording. Spotify said its AI Persona badges flag identities it believes were made with AI.
By default, those profiles are excluded from editorial and automated recommendations, with exceptions such as a listener choosing to follow one.
Separate AI Credits let artists disclose which roles and instruments involved AI. Listeners can find those details in a song’s credits on the mobile app, the company said.
Meanwhile, AllHipHop previously reported that Spotify’s deal with Believe would let participating artists choose whether to allow paid AI covers and remixes. Saying yes to hearing about AI plans would still leave an artist free to reject that tool.
Spotify also said artists in its Profile Protection test could review releases submitted under their names. It planned to make that safeguard available to all artists by the end of the year.
