Spotify faces backlash over launch of paid Premium AI remix tool

Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) are receiving backlash after launching a new paid Premium feature that allows users to remix their favourite artists’ tracks using AI.

After launching the "groundbreaking" new tool last week (May 21), Spotify’s co-CEO, Alex Norström, said it would have a "rewarding outcome for artists and songwriters" by compensating those who take part.

"Solving hard problems for music is what Spotify does, and fan-made covers and remixes are next," he said at the time.

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The feature will allow fans to create "AI-driven licensed covers and remixes" using artists’ work as a paid add-on, though it’s currently unclear how much it will cost.

In response, Spotify users shared their fears over the platform’s growing use of AI tools, with one saying on Reddit: "I quit Spotify after many many years because of their attempts to integrate AI into music."

"The platform is totally diminishing creators, making it seem so easy to ‘create’ music," another argued. "When it’s not really creating music. When people’s souls and lives work and experiences go into it."

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Alex Norström has since spoken to the Financial Times about Spotify’s continued growth in artificial intelligence, defending the company’s choice to expand its offering of AI tools.

He argued that Spotify’s use of AI is "controlled", but said there are many "rogue attempts" elsewhere, adding that he wants Spotify to be "the one that’s legal" when it comes to AI features.

"There’s some negativity out there about AI, for sure. I think it’s reasonable because some of it is misaligned AI," he said. "I mean, fraud and abuse, we’ve been fighting forever."

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor