Sony Music Demands Removal of Over 260,000 AI Deepfake Songs From Digital Platforms
Sony Music has submitted takedown requests for more than 260,000 AI-generated deepfake songs that imitate recorded artists without authorization. According to reporting confirmed by Billboard, the surge highlights growing music industry alarm over vocal cloning, deceptive synthetic media, and diverted royalty revenue.
Sony Music has requested the removal of more than 260,000 AI deepfake tracks from digital streaming platforms, according to details confirmed by Billboard. The publication noted that the milestone was initially reported by the Financial Times, reflecting a dramatic escalation in unauthorized vocal cloning across the music landscape. The new count marks nearly double the 135,000 takedown requests Sony Music reported issuing in March.
A spokesperson for Sony Music told Billboard that the generative AI tracks subject to takedown notices imitate the company's roster of artists and their likenesses without permission. The spokesperson emphasized that every fraudulent stream diverts financial compensation away from legitimate artists and songwriters. In a statement provided to Billboard, Sony Music warned that unauthorized deepfakes harm creators, deceive listeners, and undermine ethical uses of artificial intelligence while creating an ongoing struggle for rights holders.
Currently, the United States lacks a federal law explicitly prohibiting the unauthorized use of a person's name, image, likeness, or voice in AI deepfakes. Billboard reported that protections remain an uneven patchwork of state-level regulations. To address these statutory gaps, major record labels and digital streaming services established a voluntary notice-and-takedown procedure in 2023. While intended as a temporary stopgap, the mechanism has served as the primary tool for labels attempting to keep deepfake tracks off platforms.
Meanwhile, music industry advocates continue pushing for federal legislative protection through the NO FAKES Act, which was first drafted in 2023 and formally introduced in 2024. The proposed bill would establish a national right for individuals to authorize the commercial use of their voices and likenesses in AI deepfakes, while carving out exemptions for news reporting, documentaries, sports, and parody.
Legislative progress encountered resistance on Capitol Hill last week when the NO FAKES Act reached the Senate floor. Billboard reported that despite receiving broad support from lawmakers, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) blocked the measure, citing concerns regarding how the law might impact political commentary and satire.
The overall volume of synthetic music content arriving on digital services remains high. French streaming service Deezer reported that platform users upload more than 90,000 fully AI-generated tracks each day. Although only a portion of those daily uploads constitute deepfakes of established artists, major record labels are increasingly forced to devote resources toward monitoring digital platforms and protecting their talent. Sony Music stated it will continue enforcing artist rights while urging digital platforms to take proactive measures to prevent infringing content from reappearing.