The AI algorithm respects no one, not even musicians who have rested in peace for decades. Recently, streaming platforms became the scene of a surreal joke when official profiles of jazz legends suddenly appeared with anime-style covers and computer-generated music tracks.

The situation affected platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, impacting iconic figures like saxophonist Sonny Criss, clarinetist Jimmie Noone, cornetist Red Nichols, and vocalist Jean Carne. In Criss’s case, who died in 1977, new singles appeared promoted with animated character illustrations and attributed to a composer named Zainul Irpan. To make matters worse, the artist’s profile picture on their official YouTube channel was completely replaced by an AI-made anime character.

The absurdity didn’t stop there. In Jimmie Noone’s catalog, a classic jazz icon who died in 1944, intruders uploaded modern pop ballads unrelated to his original work. Amid the confusion, a Spotify spokesperson confirmed they have removed all unauthorized posts from affected accounts, stressing that protecting musicians’ identities is a top priority.

To prevent such incidents, the company is testing a profile protection feature allowing artists or their representatives to review and approve any release before it appears in their catalog. Additionally, starting mid-September, they will implement a special virtual identity label to flag profiles created entirely by AI, which will be excluded from default algorithmic recommendations.

About AI tools in music platforms

The unauthorized use of AI to flood digital stores with automated content has become a constant in the music industry. While platforms like Spotify and Amazon Music have begun removing these fake releases and adjusting their security filters, services like YouTube Music still allow some altered profiles to remain uncorrected.

What do you think about using AI to modify profiles of deceased artists?