Apple Music to Begin Tagging AI-Created Songs

Apple Music is reportedly planning to begin rolling out a new ‘Transparency Tag’ metadata system to identify AI-created songs on the platform. As the name suggests, this will provide a bit more transparency into which tracks have been created using AI tools.

Word comes via Music Business Worldwide, which reports that Apple has begun sending a newsletter to industry partners this week, flagging the new tagging system. It’s said that Apple’s Transparency Tag covers four categories spanning Apple Music, giving distributors and artists the ability to properly tag AI-created music.

Apple Music’s new metadata tags span artwork, track, composition (lyrics) and music videos. Labels and distributors are encouraged to begin applying accurate tags immediately. As of now, tagging is completely optional with no ramifications if a distributor decides not to include AI tags. If content is uploaded without accurate tags, Apple Music assumes no AI was used in the creation.

“Proper tagging of content is the first step in giving the music industry the data and tools needed to develop thoughtful policies around AI,” Apple reportedly said in its newsletter, “and we believe labels and distributors must take an active role in reporting when the content they deliver is created using AI.”

As of now, it sounds as if Apple is placing much of the onus on distributors and artists to determine whether a track or music video includes AI-generated content. This first approach of transparency requires the honour system to be used.

While the tagging system appears to be entirely voluntary for now, it’s a step in the right direction. Further transparency on whether content published to Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, etc., is a dire requirement. The latter, for instance, is reported to have over 60,000 fully AI-generated tracks uploaded each day. For artists depending on discovery, an oversaturation of AI-generated music could spell disaster.