Music Industry Urging Artist Transparency

AI Group: Velvet Sundown

The Velvet Sundown, a band that gained viral fame with over 1 million Spotify streams in weeks, was later revealed to be entirely AI-generated, including their music, promotional images, and backstory, according to The Guardian.

Initially described as a “synthetic music project guided by human creative direction,” the band, whose sound echoed the country folk style of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, released two albums in June: Floating On Echoes and Dust And Silence. 

They denied being AI-created until an alleged “adjunct” member admitted the use of the generative AI platform Suno, calling the project an “art hoax.” The band’s social media later confirmed their AI nature, describing themselves as “not quite human, not quite machine.”

This revelation has sparked debate about authenticity in music, with industry experts urging streaming platforms like Spotify to legally mandate labeling for AI-generated music to ensure consumer transparency. 

The Velvet Sundown case underscores the challenges of regulating AI in a rapidly evolving music industry, where legislation struggles to keep pace, and independent artists face potential exploitation amid growing concerns over fraud and fakery in music streaming.