AI Band Velvet Sundown Sparks Industry Policy Debate

Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated band, quickly gained over a million monthly Spotify listeners with chart-topping folk rock tracks before revealing itself as an 'art hoax' intended to provoke debate on authorship and creativity in music. The band’s disclosure led to confusion, online impersonation attempts, and broad discussions regarding the authenticity of AI-driven music. Industry stakeholders and streaming platforms have raised concerns, with some services like ROKK banning fully AI-generated music. Studies now warn that AI could reduce artists’ incomes by over 20% in the coming years. The case highlights disparities in recognition and compensation between AI-generated acts and human musicians, intensifying calls for transparency and new policies. Velvet Sundown’s rise underscores ongoing tensions between human and machine creativity in the digital music landscape.