Section

Streaming

Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok and how the platforms change the rules.

AI & Music

Spotify Will Label AI-Generated Artist Identities and Keep Them Out of Recommendations

The new “AI Persona” badge targets profiles that present a photorealistic AI-generated person as the artist. It says nothing about how a song was actually made.

Mark Rosenberg · September 20, 2026 · 3 min read

Distribution

Distributors Sign IFPI’s Anti-Fraud Pledge: What Independent Artists Should Expect

More than 20 companies have committed to verifying who uploads music and what rights they hold. DistroKid and TuneCore weren’t among the launch signatories.

Mark Rosenberg · September 20, 2026 · 2 min read

Streaming

Spotify’s Fresh Finds Forward Will Back 10,000 Emerging Artists a Year, but You Can’t Apply Directly

The program offers studio time, software subscriptions and six months of therapy. Eligibility runs through Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlists.

Mark Rosenberg · September 20, 2026 · 2 min read

What changed?

Universal and TikTok Renew Their Licensing Deal With an AI Clause Attached

The multi-year agreement covers recordings and publishing, and adds a joint commitment to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform.

Mark Rosenberg · September 20, 2026 · 2 min read