The Velvet Sundown, a band that went viral with over 1 million streams on Spotify in weeks, has admitted that their music, images, and backstory were entirely AI-generated. The revelation has sparked a debate among music industry insiders, who are calling for legal requirements to label AI-created content on streaming platforms.
Initially, the 'band' denied being an AI creation, releasing two albums in June titled Floating On Echoes and Dust And Silence, reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. However, an 'adjunct' member later revealed that the songs were created using the generative AI platform Suno, describing the project as an 'art hoax'. The band's social media initially denied this, claiming their identity was being 'hijacked', before confirming the AI origin and stating they were 'Not quite human. Not quite machine'.
Industry figures argue that streaming sites like Spotify should be legally obliged to tag AI-generated music. Roberto Neri, chief executive of the Ivors Academy, said: 'AI-generated bands like Velvet Sundown that are reaching big audiences without involving human creators raise serious concerns around transparency, authorship and consent.' Sophie Jones of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) backed calls for clear labelling, urging the UK government to protect copyright and introduce transparency obligations for AI companies.
Liz Pelly, author of Mood Machine, warned that independent artists could be exploited by AI bands trained on their music without compensation. She cited a 2023 case where an AI-generated song mimicking the Weeknd and Drake was removed after Universal Music Group flagged it as infringing content. Pelly stressed that all artists should know if their work has been used in this way.
Critics note that it is unclear what music the Velvet Sundown's albums were trained on, raising concerns about lost compensation for independent artists. Sophie Jones added: 'The rise of AI-generated bands points to the fact that tech companies have been training AI models using creative works – largely without authorisation or payment.'
Some see the Velvet Sundown as a logical step in the fusion of music and AI, while legislation struggles to keep pace. Roberto Neri said the UK has a chance to lead in ethical AI adoption but needs robust legal frameworks to ensure consent, fair remuneration, and clear labelling. Aurélien Hérault of Deezer noted that his platform uses detection software to identify and tag AI-generated tracks, highlighting a potential industry-wide solution.
