Tidal joins the industry crackdown on generative churn, stripping royalties from purely AI-made music while mandating transparency labels.
Tidal's updated policy makes a clear distinction: royalties are for human-made works. Starting now, only music written and performed by people remains eligible for payouts. The platform isn't banning generative tools entirely, but it is moving to safeguard the value of human creative labor against automated sprawl.
Transparency is the next pillar. Mid-July introduces icons identifying 100% AI-generated tracks, with plans to expand labeling to content that is 'substantially' AI-assisted. Both creators and distributors are now required to disclose AI involvement upfront.
EVP Tony Gervino notes the shift is a response to listener feedback—fans want to know when they're engaging with organic creativity vs. synthetic uploads. Tidal follows recent moves by Bandcamp, Deezer, and Apple Music to curb the influx of AI 'spam' that currently dilutes streaming pools.