Billboard to identify AI-generated music on its charts

Billboard says it will start identifying AI-generated music on its charts and in its editorial coverage, committing to greater transparency as AI-made tracks continue flooding streaming services.

"Ensuring transparency around AI-generated music requires collaboration across the entire industry from artists and labels to DSPs, technology companies and industry organizations," Billboard's EVP of Charts & Data Partnerships, Silvio Pietroluongo, said in the announcement.

The move comes as the scale of AI music on streaming grows quickly. Deezer reported in July that AI-generated tracks had exceeded half of all new music delivered to its platform on peak days, following an April report that it was receiving nearly 75,000 AI-generated tracks a day.

Billboard pointed to new tools built to tag and identify AI-created songs, including Luminate's proprietary AI detection program, which the data company behind Billboard's charts unveiled the same week. Billboard also cited wider efforts from streaming services and industry groups to mark AI-generated content across their platforms.

Billboard's Co-Chief Content Officer Leila Cobo said the outlet will "always champion artists, celebrate music and promote editorial transparency," adding that disclosure is critical "so that we can be transparent and accurate in our editorial coverage and in our charts." The announcement stops short of settling whether AI-made songs should be eligible for Billboard's charts at all, focusing instead on labeling what listeners are hearing.