‘We’re Trying to Bet Big on Human Artistry’: Spotify’s Sam Duboff Talks AI Initiatives
Duboff recently visited Australia to talk with artists and partners in the domestic industry about its own AI protections and initiatives.
Australia, known for its love of sports and unique inventions like Wi-Fi, electronic pacemakers, and flight recorders, has made headlines once again. In December 2025, the country became the first to ban social media for children, implementing strict laws that block under-16 users from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also committed to strong copyright protections in the age of AI, reassuring that companies won't have the right to use copyrighted content to train AI without the artist's consent. Spotify's Sam Duboff, the global head of artists, marketing, and policy, recently visited Australia to discuss AI protections and initiatives with local artists and partners.
Duboff shares that Spotify's approach aligns with the government's stance, emphasizing respect for copyright and ensuring AI helps existing IP holders. He also discusses Spotify's AI music products, emphasizing the company's respect for copyright as they build new AI tools alongside the industry. Spotify recently announced partnerships with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Merlin to allow AI remixing of songs, available as a paid add-on for premium subscribers.
The tech giant also unveiled a new "AI Persona" label for artists, ensuring AI-generated artists won't appear in personalized recommendations. Duboff highlights Spotify's "artist-first" AI principles, focusing on building trust with listeners amidst challenges posed by AI-generated music. The company's Turn Up Aus Live event series, celebrating Australian artists, has already contributed to increased domestic music streams in 2024-25.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
