TIDAL Cracks Down on AI Music by Cutting Off Monetization
Music streaming service TIDAL announced that as of July 15, 2026, fully AI-generated music will be blocked from earning money on its platform and will be tagged with an AI badge.
TIDAL has become the latest music streaming platform to take a stand against AI-generated music with a new policy that prevents fully AI-created tracks from generating revenue. According to the company, such tracks will no longer collect royalties or be eligible for direct-to-fan sales. Additionally, TIDAL will deploy automated tools to detect and remove AI music that impersonates a specific artist or group.
Tony Gervino, TIDAL's Executive Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, stated that the policy is not intended to bash technological advancement but to protect and reward organic creativity. He noted that many subscribers do not want to be exposed to entirely AI-generated music.
Under the new rules, any track determined to be 100% AI-generated will receive an "AI" badge, allowing listeners to identify it. These tracks will not be monetized and will be excluded from direct-to-fan sales.
The policy goes into effect on July 15, 2026, and is described by TIDAL as a "living document," meaning it may evolve as the landscape changes.
TIDAL joins other streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and Qobuz in addressing the surge of AI music. Spotify revamped its policies last year to label AI music and filter spam. Apple Music also uses tagging. Deezer, which reports that 44% of all new daily uploads are AI-generated, has taken a tougher stance by actively removing AI tracks from recommendations and excluding them from editorial playlists.
Gervino expressed confidence that AI's takeover of the music industry is not inevitable if sufficient steps are taken now to monitor and control it.
