Apple Music introduces Transparency Tags to identify AI-generated content
Apple Music is launching Transparency Tags for AI content, but it won’t be doing the tagging itself.
Apple Music is introducing an update that will help to boost transparency when it comes to AI-generated music and content on its platform. The company has named this metadata update “Transparency Tags”, but is relying on labels and distributors to tag content as AI before sending it to the platform.
Music Business Worldwide reports that Apple announced this change in an industry partners newsletter yesterday (4th of March). Apple’s version of AI tagging differs to that of Deezer or Qobuz, both of which detect AI-generated audio content and tag it themselves. In this case, Apple is leaving it up to labels and distributors to hande this metadata, “similar to genres, credits, and other metadata”, as the newsletter apparently states.
Apple will focus on four aspects of a release, covering the audio track itself, visual artwork, composition (lyrics), and music video. The Track tag can be applied when “AI generates a material portion of a sound recording”, as MBW puts it. This suggests that Transparency Tags are appropriate for both AI-generated and AI-assisted tracks, whereas Deezer and Qobuz detect and tag content that is 100% AI-generated. This tag is available at track level only.
Music metadata is the information embedded in music files that describes and tags various aspects of a track or release. It’s important for so many reason, from keeping things organised on streaming platforms, to enhancing the discoverability of your music.
This useful data is essential for understanding the digital music industry, and for developing policies and systems that fit the landscape. With AI becoming such a huge part of not only music, but the creative world, it’s crucial that robust policies are developed in order to protect artists and consumers. On this, Apple says, “Proper tagging of content is the first step in giving the music industry the data and tools needed to develop thoughtful policies around AI, and we believe labels and distributors must take an active role in reporting when the content they deliver is created using AI.”
TechCrunch notes that Spotify is pursuing a similar method of tagging, as part of the platform’s AI protection policies. Spotify will also rely on distributors to implement AI tagging within release metadata, aiming to increase transparency and reduce AI slop that is currently diluting the platform’s content.
While many streaming platforms employ the use of AI, be it for prompt-based playlists or AI-hosted radio stations, there is an increasing effort to quell the improper and unethical use of AI. Platforms like Suno and Udio are signing more deals with major labels to ensure fairer usage when it comes to training AI models. However, this isn’t an open invitation for AI music to flood DSPs and take space and attention from genuine human artists. Since it would be incredibly difficult, if even possible, to put a blanket ban on AI-generated or AI-assisted music, transparency is the key. Users deserve to be made aware of what they’re listening to, whether they choose to avoid it or not.
When it comes to Apple’s AI Transparency Tags and Spotify’s imminent AI tagging system, responsibility is left in the hands of distributors. As a partner of both DSPs, RouteNote is committed to that responsibility – this is something we have in the works. Keep an eye on socials and email newsletters for news of AI tagging’s inclusion in the RouteNote upload process. Watch this space.