Spotify Shares Update on ‘AI Spam,’ Says 50M Songs Have Been Removed From Recommendations
The company said more than 75 million tracks have also been removed from the service altogether.
Spotify disclosed on Tuesday (Oct. 20) that more than 50 million songs have been removed from recommendations due to what the company refers to as “AI-spam.” This brings the total number of songs taken down to over 75 million. In addition to these removals, Spotify has employed a combination of tools to identify these problematic tracks, including analyzing upload patterns, metadata, third-party AI detection systems, and listener engagement and feedback.
The company announced these updates following tighter AI policies implemented in September 2025, when it had already removed 75 million AI-generated songs from the platform. Spotify's head of music, Charlie Hellman, emphasized that the company aims to support artists using AI responsibly, seeking to foster creativity and offer an enhanced user experience. However, the focus remains on eliminating malicious actors exploiting AI for unethical purposes.
Spotify has taken several steps since last year to combat AI-related issues on its platform. In April, the company launched a verification badge for human artists, named "Verified by Spotify," which now holds over 300,000 artists, with 70 percent being independent. In August, Spotify introduced an "AI Persona" badge to mark AI-generated artist profiles, preventing these from appearing in personalized recommendations.
While Spotify intensifies its efforts against AI spam, the company is also working on an AI remixing tool. Universal Music Group, Merlin, Kobalt, and Believe have already licensed their music for this tool, all contributing to the advancement of AI technology in the music industry.
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