Musicians in Kansas City and researchers raise alarms over the rapid surge of AI-generated music on streaming services, calling for transparency and new rules to protect human artists and cultural integrity.
Kansas City musicians are calling for new rules to curb the rise of fully synthetic music on streaming services, arguing that generative artificial intelligence is displacing human artists and siphoning income from those who create music professionally. According to the report by KCUR, Shaun Crowley, founder and executive director of Manor Records, told KCUR’s Up to Date that “The industry now is using AI as the musician, taking real musicians completely out of it,” and warned that platforms are “making money off the streams and the uses on TikTok, taking a huge chunk that would go to an artist.” [2], [6]
Their concerns are echoed by academic research showing a rapid influx of AI-created tracks on major platforms. A Duke University study estimates about 25% of music on Spotify is now fully AI‑generated and rarely labelled as such, a surge the study’s authors say raises urgent questions about transparency, artist compensation and the future of cultural labour. Industry-focused analysis from Duke’s tech policy programme similarly frames Spotify as a “canary in the coal mine” for wider platform-driven change. [2], [3]
Musicians cite practical harms as well as principles. Kansas City singer‑songwriter Joshua James Warren told KCUR’s Up to Date that after long nights of practice and performance “the human element’s completely removed when you just give it to a computer prompt.” Local artist Jamogi Bridges argued AI songs should be excluded from competitive charts and has moved his catalogue off Spotify to Tidal; Alison Hawkins made a similar switch in 2022, telling KCUR she prefers services that better support human creators. [6], [4]
The inability of listeners to reliably tell synthetic from human-made music intensifies the problem. A Deezer survey found 97% of participants in blind tests could not distinguish AI tracks from human ones, with 71% surprised by the results and 52% uncomfortable; the same research reported strong consumer support for transparent labelling and the option to filter out fully AI-created tracks. Deezer itself has said that more than 30% of new uploads to its platform are AI-generated, though such tracks apparently account for only around 0.5% of overall streams , a nuance that suggests volume of uploads and actual listening behaviour may diverge. [4], [5]
Experts and reporting warn of a parallel “AI slop” dynamic in which mass-produced, low-quality synthetic tracks flood platforms to game royalties and visibility, a phenomenon documented in industry commentary and platform enforcement actions. Those patterns have prompted calls from musicians, researchers and some consumer groups for regulation requiring clear labelling, new copyright and payment rules, and platform accountability to protect sustainable livelihoods in music. [7], [3]
Streaming platforms acknowledge both the creative possibilities and the challenges. When KCUR asked, a Spotify spokesperson told the outlet that “AI technology is advancing quickly, bringing both new creative possibilities and challenges for the music industry. It’s critical for the music industry to join forces and act together to protect creativity while enabling innovation,” and noted AI-generated content also exists on competing services. Musicians interviewed said commercial and regulatory responses should prioritise transparency , clearly labelling AI usage , and consumer support for owning music rather than relying solely on streaming. [6], [2], [5]
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Source: Noah Wire Services
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The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, published on January 14, 2026, with no prior substantially similar content found.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
Direct quotes from local musicians and industry experts are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from KCUR, a reputable NPR affiliate in Kansas City, known for its local journalism.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The concerns raised align with ongoing discussions about AI’s impact on the music industry, supported by recent legislative efforts and industry reactions.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is a fresh, original news report from a reputable source, presenting unique quotes and plausible claims without any paywall or content type issues.
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