Apple Music sent an email, obtained by Billboard, to music industry partners on Thursday, 20 August, announcing its "Made With AI" labelling initiative. Later this year, the platform stated that any track marked as "materially generated using AI" by content providers, such as record labels and distributors, will carry a visible label for users to see.
Although it is unclear exactly when these labels will launch, Apple Music indicated that they will appear on the service "later this year". The announcement builds on the company's March announcement about AI Transparency Tags, a system that requires content providers to disclose when and where AI is used in a "material" way, such as in the creation of artwork, tracks, compositions and music videos.
"As we implement Made With AI Labels, content providers will be important partners", the email stated. "They are best positioned to know how their content was created and which AI Transparency Tags should be used". The message also emphasised that this requirement "includes tracks generated by AI platforms. We define AI platform-generated content as anything that is derived primarily from a generative AI service".
The announcement on Apple Music comes just weeks after a coalition of music industry stakeholders proposed a system for labelling AI music on streaming platforms. This included the idea of creating two labels: "AI Generated", which denotes a track that includes AI in key instrumentals, lead vocals or was created entirely through prompts, and "AI Assisted", which indicates tracks that include AI in some parts, but where humans still perform the lead vocals and instrumentals.
In April, Apple Music executive Oliver Schusser spoke about the impact of AI music on the platform and revealed that "more than a third" of what they received monthly was "100% AI music". Schusser added that actual use of AI music on Apple Music "is really small", with figures "below 0.5% of usage". However, Schusser believes it is largely up to content providers to "take responsibility" for what to do with this growing flood of AI-generated content.
