Tidal, the music streaming service that built its reputation by promising fairer payments to musicians, has announced a new policy: it will not pay royalties for AI-generated music uploaded to its platform. The announcement comes as the music industry races to understand how artificial intelligence will reshape how songs are created, distributed and monetized.
Unlike Spotify and Apple Music, which have largely stayed silent on AI music, Tidal is drawing a clear boundary. If a track is generated by artificial intelligence rather than created by a human musician, it earns no royalties, no matter how many people listen. This applies to fully AI-generated songs and, according to the policy’s stated intent, to music where AI is the primary creative force. The company has positioned this as an extension of its core mission: supporting human artists fairly.
The timing of Tidal’s move reflects a genuine problem in music streaming. Major platforms now receive hundreds of AI-generated tracks every day. Some are experimental projects by musicians testing tools. Others are intentionally deceptive, designed to game streaming algorithms and collect royalties through fake listens. The sheer volume has made it harder for human creators to be discovered and earn money. Spotify recently began removing obvious spam, but the issue persists across all platforms.
Tidal’s reputation rests on being different. When it launched, it promised to pay artists a higher percentage of subscription revenue than Spotify. This stance became central to its identity, attracting both musicians and listeners who prioritized fair compensation. By refusing to monetize AI music, the platform is reinforcing that identity while making a bet: that enough artists and listeners care about human creativity to justify the policy.
However, questions remain unanswered. How will Tidal detect AI-generated content? The company hasn’t provided technical details. Detection could rely on metadata submitted by uploaders, on AI detection tools that are still imperfect, or on human review. A musician who uses AI in part of their creative process could theoretically claim their work as human-made. Enforcement will likely be inconsistent, especially for borderline cases.
The broader music industry has not established universal standards for AI. Record labels are divided. Some want AI music banned entirely. Others want AI companies to license and pay for human music used in training data. Artists fear AI will flood markets with low-cost, low-quality tracks that reduce opportunities for human creators to earn. Governments and industry bodies are still drafting policies.
Tidal’s policy is notable because no other major streaming service has made such a public commitment. Whether it influences industry practice or remains an outlier depends on whether artists and listeners actually care enough to switch platforms. For now, Tidal is alone in drawing this line.
Source: 404 Media
Source: https://www.404media.co/tidal-says-it-wont-pay-royalties-for-ai-generated-music
