It used to be so simple to answer the question “who” made any particular music, image, video, advertising, or piece of art.
Not anymore. Not in the world of generative AI.
Just this past Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that a coalition of major music industry trade groups led by the RIAA — and backed by Hollywood players SAG-AFTRA and the Human Artistry Campaign — are pushing Spotify and Apple Music to adopt a dual-tag AI labeling system. A black “AI” tile for music tracks generated entirely by AI — and a lowercase “ai” tile for tracks that “merely” lean into AI.
This didn’t come out of nowhere.
In the world of film and television, AI transparency is a core element of SAG-AFTRA’s newly ratified 2026 contract. Producers must now disclose plans to use synthetic performers instead of humans — and why. AI “actors” are allowed only if producers can prove that they deliver “significant additional value” over human actors — or those actors’ own digital replicas.
Translation? Disclosure and consent aren’t afterthoughts — they’re the deal itself.
Meanwhile, back on the music front, starting tomorrow July 15th, streaming service Tidal requires prominent AI labeling for tracks that are wholly or substantially AI-generated. And — critically — those AI tracks will NOT be eligible for royalties. Tidal’s response is to the music tidal-wave of AI sound slop that increasingly floods our ears (without us even knowing about it).
Just chew on this for a moment. Deezer, another music streamer and early pioneer in AI transparency, reports that 75,000 fully AI-generated tracks are uploaded to its platform daily. That’s 44% of all new uploads, 85% of which are fraudulent — i.e., bots “listening” to AI-generated tracks (bots on bots).
Given this reality, it’s clear that AI labeling isn’t just a new compliance box for lawyers — or a symbolic nod to a creative community increasingly overwhelmed by AI works.
Consumers want this — and increasingly demand it. The data backs it up. According to a recent Pangram/YouGov poll of 2,500+ U.S. adults, 69% trust AI-generated content less than human-created content. And 73% of Gen Z consumers say they’ve personally experienced misleading AI content. Gartner’s 2026 research goes even further — 50% of U.S. consumers say they’d rather give their business to brands that don’t use generative AI in their content and advertising.
The bottom line is that consumers trust brands less for using generative AI, and they’re starting to punish brands that refuse to give them AI transparency. They increasingly see AI labeling as a key mechanism that lets them exercise free will and choice. Some surely will embrace AI-generated content. But many won’t. And none of them can choose what they can’t see. AI silence is not an option.
New York gives a taste of this new AI state of mind. Here are two recent examples. In June, advertisers were required to prominently disclose when they use synthetic performers in advertising. And just last month, the state passed the first-of-its-kind FAIR News Act, which requires AI disclosure in published news content.
So the labels are coming. In fact, they’re already here. One platform at a time.
The only real questions left are who amongst us chooses to stay silent. And why.
What do you think? Share your thoughts with me to peter@creativemedia.biz.
We now have over 125 copyright infringement litigations pending against AI companies worldwide. Here’s a list of the top 7 AI defendants. OpenAI has been sued the most (25 times), Meta second (15 times), and Microsoft and Anthropic (each with 10). This chart was compiled by professor Edward Lee of Santa Clara University Law School, a respected pundit in the world of “AI meets media.”
Creative Media is at the forefront of AI’s transformation of the worlds of media and entertainment. We represent innovators who leverage the power of AI. We know the issues. In fact, we’re ahead of them. We define real world, practical solutions — and do it far more responsively and cost-effectively than others. We specialize in entrepreneurial legal services and high impact business strategy and consulting. We can be your fractional business team or General Counsel.
Reach out to me at peter@creativemedia.biz to learn more.
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