ROKK stands firm against AI music with human review system
Rock and metal-focussed streaming platform founder says, “No Fully AI-Generated Music on ROKK”.
As AI-generated music continues to spread across streaming platforms, one service is taking a decisive step in the opposite direction. ROKK, a rock and metal-focused platform, has announced the launch of a human review system to tackle the rise of fully artificial tracks.
Digital Music News reports that from now on, any ROKK user can report a track they believe was generated entirely by AI. These flagged songs will then be checked manually by the ROKK team – no algorithms, just real people making the final decision. Sounds a lot like how we’ve always done things here at RouteNote.
This comes after growing concerns about the rise of artificial bands and artists that are created entirely by algorithms, without any real human input. One recent example is The Velvet Sundown, a band made completely by AI, which managed to reach over a million monthly listeners on Spotify. The attention it gained has sparked conversation across the music industry, with many questioning what happens to real musicians when artificial ones start climbing the charts.
Alexander Landenburg, ROKK’s co-founder and drummer for Kamelot and Cyhra, said the platform has no issue with artists using technology to support their creativity, such as MIDI packs or editing tools. But he drew a firm line between support and replacement. “It’s one thing if someone uses technology as part of their creative process. After all, that’s no different from musicians using MIDI packs, amp simulators, or editing tools. What matters is that there’s still a major and meaningful human contribution at the core,” he explained.
He went on to say, “But we draw the line when AI is used to create entire ‘artists’ or ‘bands’ that are completely artificial yet passed off as human, as in ‘The Velvet Sundown.’ That’s not just soulless: it’s deception. It undermines everything we stand for.” He also highlighted the years of practice and sacrifice that go into becoming a musician, calling AI-generated tracks made in seconds “a slap in the face to every artist who’s put their heart and soul into their craft.” Landenburg was clear about ROKK’s direction: “This must be stopped. That’s why our goal is clear: No Fully AI-Generated Music on ROKK. Please join us in keeping music real.”
What ROKK is doing is quite unique. While Deezer has introduced AI tagging to let listeners know when a track might be artificially created, it hasn’t removed or disallowed the content completely.
The difference between AI-assisted music and fully AI-generated tracks is becoming more important. Artists using tools to improve or inspire their work still have a creative hand in the final result. But music made entirely by a prompt, without human songwriting, performance, or input, is becoming harder to distinguish.
The legal side adds another layer of complexity. In the United States, AI-generated works cannot currently be copyrighted unless a human is meaningfully involved. This raises further questions about ownership, revenue, and protection for both real artists and listeners.
ROKK’s decision won’t stop AI music overnight, but it sends a strong message: music should be made by people, not programmes. As the industry continues to evolve, more platforms may need to take a position too.