Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping music—and not always with the human touch we value. The story of The Velvet Sundown, an entirely AI-generated band, is at the forefront of this debate, raising tough questions about authenticity, transparency, and the future of music.

The Velvet Sundown's Spotify profile - with over half a million monthly listeners- reveals the reach of this fabricated band.

​https://www.stereogum.com/2313501/ai-generated-psych-rock-band-the-velvet-sundown-rack-up-hundreds-of-thousands-of-spotify-streams/news/​

A Viral Band That Never Existed in June 2025, The Velvet Sundown surfaced with two albums—Floating on Echoes and Dust and Silence—and quickly racked up more than a million Spotify streams, including topping Viral 50 charts in Europe. Their music dropped between June 5 and June 20, with a third album, Paper Sun Rebellion, scheduled just weeks later.

Fans and media were captivated by their “1970s-inspired psychedelic folk-rock,” but something felt off. There were no live performances, no interview archives, and their imagery carried the telltale eeriness of AI-generated visuals.

Initially met with denials, the project eventually embraced its nature: “The Velvet Sundown is a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction … not quite human, not quite machine.” The framing of the act as an “artistic provocation” amplified the ethical debate.

The Ethical Echoes of AI in Music

The episode has prompted urgent calls for transparency in streaming. Critics warn that AI music threatens to devalue true human artistry, quietly flood playlists, and displace creators in a crowded digital space.

Industry figures like Ed Newton-Rex have called the phenomenon “theft dressed up as competition,” while music bodies such as the Ivors Academy and BPI urge clear AI labeling and fairer practices.

My Personal Fight in Freestyle Dance Music

This matter hits close to home. In the tight-knit world of Freestyle Dance Music, I watched with dismay as a label rolled out tracks by Odalis, an AI-created artist using ChatGPT and Suno AI. For a genre supported by lifelong fans and emotional authenticity, this felt like betrayal—not innovation.

I shared a controversial image on social media expressing my frustration:

The release of an AI artist in our genre felt like a surrender. Hope belongs in the hearts of creators, not in machines. There is no substitute for the human artist—with flaws and all. I have no issue with the tools themselves—I use them in my work every day—but fabricating an artist crosses the line. And it’s not just my opinion; it’s an overwhelming sentiment shared across much of the music business. Look no further than the recent backlash super producer Timbaland faced when he floated the idea of signing his first AI artist—did we not learn from history? Tools like Suno should serve as collaborators, enhancing what already exists, not replacing the human at the heart of the art.

Where Do We Go from Here?

The Velvet Sundown’s saga isn’t just a headline—it’s a case study for how AI might quietly reshape music culture. It’s also a cautionary tale: AI can accelerate creativity, but without clear boundaries and ethical use, it risks drowning what makes music human.

Whether in grand gestures or grassroots genres, it’s up to creators, platforms, and fans to demand transparency, protect authenticity, and ensure that the soul of music doesn’t get lost in code.

Measures the Industry Is Taking to Push Back on AI Artist Overreach

Transparency Through Labeling & Detection Tools

Streaming platforms are stepping up to identify AI-generated music. YouTube now requires clear labeling of AI music, especially for deepfake vocals, to maintain user awareness. On the streaming side, Deezer flags AI tracks, while platforms like Vermillio and Spawning AI are building tech to tag synthetic content and trace creative influence back to training data. This isn’t just about takedowns—it’s about better licensing, traceability, and industry-wide accountability.

Legal Protections & Rights Frameworks

In Tennessee, the “ELVIS Act” now protects artists’ vocal likeness from being digitally reproduced without consent—marking a pioneering step in voice-cloning legislation. On the federal level, tech giants including OpenAI and Google have committed to embedding watermarking and labeling in AI content under a voluntary White House-led initiative. These actions emphasize the importance of transparency and safeguarding artist identity in the age of AI.

Industry Advocacy & Copyright Enforcement

Powerful entities like the Recording Academy and RIAA are actively shaping policy and advocating for protections that prioritize human creativity in copyright law. Lawsuits have also been filed—RIAA has sued AI companies such as Suno and Udio for allegedly using copyrighted recordings in AI training without proper authorization. Meanwhile, the UK’s BPI is demanding mandatory labeling for AI-created content to ensure clarity and fair compensation for human artists.

Why It Matters

These evolving efforts—from technical detection tools to legal and regulatory frameworks—reflect a critical moment in music’s future. AI music isn’t disappearing, but now the industry is insisting on:

• Transparency – Audiences deserve to know when a track is AI-generated.
• Rights protection – Artists must retain control and compensation for the work AI is derived from.
• Ethical use – AI should augment art, not replace the emotional depth and history of human creators.