Tidal has announced that it will stop paying royalties for music identified as entirely AI-generated, effective immediately. Starting July 15th, the streaming service will label such tracks with a specific icon to inform listeners. The platform states that royalties will only be attributed to works produced, written, and performed by human beings. This policy applies to tracks flagged as 100 percent synthetic, meaning no human involvement in the creation process. Tidal will not ban this content from its library, but the financial incentive for generating pure AI music on the site has been removed.
This move highlights a growing friction between streaming economics and artificial intelligence production. By refusing to pay for non-human output, Tidal aims to ensure compensation goes directly to original creators. The decision creates a clear distinction between human and machine-made content within the service. It also sets a precedent for how other platforms might handle similar issues in the near future.
