Universal Music Group accuses music distributor of spreading 'AI slop' in lawsuit

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Set us as preferred Universal Music Group is suing digital music distributor DistroKid, alleging the company spreads “AI-generated ‘slop’ that siphons revenue and listeners from the legitimate artists and rightsholders.”The major record label accuses DistroKid of both “deceptive trade practices and blatant copyright infringement” according to a complaint filed in federal court in Delaware.“The current digital music economy is no longer a healthy, functioning one.

It has been co-opted by those trying to pass off mass AI-generated, SEO-optimized and copyright-infringing slop as music created and performed by a real human,” stated the lawsuit.“At the nexus of this problem sits DistroKid.”UMG is seeking statutory damages and injunctive relief for violations of its exclusive rights for sound recordings.Founded in 2013 and based in New York, DistroKid lets independent artists upload music to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok “and 150+ platforms” for an annual fee.

Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners agreed in July to buy a majority stake; Spotify holds a minority one.DistroKid did not respond to a request for a comment.

Hollywood Inc.Sony Music Entertainment on Monday filed a new lawsuit against AI startup Udio, alleging the company infringed on the copyrights of more than 30,000 recordings.UMG says DistroKid promises to distribute only “tracks that are original, authorized and owned by its account holders,” while doing little to screen out bad actors.

One of its highest-volume users, “Lofi Chill,” released 4,562 tracks in a year — a “pace no human musician could achieve,” the complaint says.“Every stream captured by a deceptive AI-generated or infringing track diverts listeners and revenue away from real artists,” reads the complaint.“Consumers are misled into believing they are lis...