Sony Music Demands Takedown of Over 260,000 Unauthorized AI Deepfake Songs

Sony Music Entertainment requested digital streaming platforms to remove over 260,000 unauthorized AI deepfake tracks in September alone, nearly double the 135,000 takedown requests submitted in March. The unauthorized tracks cloned the voices and likenesses of major artists including Adele, Michael Jackson, Queen, and Britney Spears. This sharp increase highlights the rapid escalation of unauthorized AI voice cloning and streaming fraud, which record executives estimate costs the global music industry up to $2.2 billion annually. It emphasizes the urgent need for stronger platform moderation and legal protections for artists against synthetic voice exploitation. Dennis Kooker, Sony Music's President of Global Digital Business, estimated that fraudulent streams could represent up to 10% of total music streaming plays. Additionally, streaming platform Deezer reported receiving 90,000 AI-generated tracks per day, noting that up to 85% of plays on fully AI-generated songs involved fraudulent activity.