Spotify has removed more than 50 million AI-generated slop and spam tracks from user recommendations over the past six months. The company also filtered out 75 million spammy tracks entirely.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Spotify announced on Tuesday that it has removed more than 50 million songs considered AI-generated slop or spam from user recommendations over the past six months. The update, published in the company’s "For the Record" blog, details changes to the music recommendation system designed to highlight music made by human artists.
The 50 million tracks filtered from recommendations are distinct from the more than 75 million spammy tracks Spotify removed from its platform entirely last year for "serious or repeated violations of our rules." According to Variety, the 50 million tracks filtered from recommendations remain available on the platform but are not surfaced algorithmically or editorially. Users would have to actively seek them out to find them.
"Earlier this year, we looked closely at the tracks listeners were skipping, ignoring, or telling us they didn’t want to hear," Spotify said in the blog post. "A clear pattern emerged: these tracks were consistently ones identified as slop or spam. Over the past six months, we’ve made numerous updates to our recommendation system to remove slop and spam, and surface more music made by authentic, human artists."
Spotify stated that its editors "hold the same standard and don’t program content identified as slop or spam." The company noted that since implementing these changes, it has seen a "marked decrease in listener concerns about this content showing up in recommendations."
To identify slop and spam, Spotify uses a combination of listener engagement and feedback, upload patterns, metadata, and third-party AI detection tools. The company acknowledged that detection is an ongoing challenge, stating that "it will only get harder as generative AI evolves."
Spotify has also introduced labeling systems for AI content. It launched an "AI Persona" badge for artists that use an AI identity and do not represent a real person. Music from AI personas is excluded from editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default, unless a listener follows the profile. According to The A.V. Club, Spotify declared itself "currently the only major streaming service that labels when an artist’s identity is believed to be AI-generated."
Additionally, Spotify launched a feature allowing users to see AI contributions to a song in its credits. The company also offers an "Artist Profile Protection" beta program, which allows verified artists to review releases delivered to Spotify under their name to prevent impersonation and stream-farming.
Spotify’s measures come as other streaming platforms adjust their policies regarding AI music. YouTube Music recently introduced labels for AI-generated songs, while Deezer offers users an option to filter out AI slop. Bandcamp has banned AI music entirely. Tidal announced plans to identify and tag music found to be almost completely AI-generated, with such releases ineligible for monetization.
Spotify reported that songs with indicators suggesting they are AI-generated are 10 times more likely to fall short of the 1,000-stream requirement needed to earn royalty payments. The company is also partnering with Universal Music Group and independent publisher Believe to launch a tool for creating AI music remixes.
The removal of 50 million tracks from recommendations highlights the scale of AI-generated content flooding streaming services and the industry's struggle to maintain quality control. By prioritizing human artists and filtering out low-engagement AI content, Spotify aims to protect the listening experience and ensure royalties reach human creators. The move reflects a broader industry trend toward transparency and stricter enforcement against spam and AI slop, as platforms balance the abundance of generative AI with the value of human artistry.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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